The dust clings to it, and it clings to the dust!
(You will find it
helpful to
LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Psalm 119:25, "My soul clings to the dust! Quicken me according to
Your Word."
David's experience is the mirror of the experience of all believers. If the
man after God's own heart felt a coldness and deadness frequently stealing
over him--then so do we.
We continually need God's quickening power, because of the deadening
influence of this world. "My soul clings to the dust."
We are surrounded with dust. And although we have within us a new and higher spiritual
life, that has no fraternity with the dust--we still retain our fleshly
body, which is brother to the dust--and says to the worm, "You are my
sister." "Dust you are, and unto dust you shall return!" is true of every
one of us. (Genesis 3:19).
Yet beloved, our new spiritual nature cannot feed on dust, for that is the
serpent's food! The new life within us craves for something higher--but the
old fleshly nature is contented with dust. The dust
clings to it, and it clings to the dust!
We all know how the care, toil, and concerns
of a busy day, will often dampen our ardor in prayer, and unfit our thoughts
for devout meditation. We cannot think much of our treasure laid up in
Heaven, when we are thinking a great deal of this world's goods.
Riches are often a dangerous encumbrance to those who seek after
holiness, as they steal the heart away from God. Matthew Henry, in his own
racy style, warns us that:
"The care in getting,
the fear in keeping,
the temptation in using,
the guilt in abusing,
the sorrow in losing,
and the responsibility of giving account
for gold and silver, large houses and lands--is a heavy burden to bear, for a
Christian who desires to live a holy life."
There is nothing in this world to help a Christian--it is all against him.
The world clasps us to itself as tightly as it can--it acts like glue to us.
When we would mount on the wings of eagles--then there is a chain on
our foot, and we cannot rise. Our soul cleaves to the dust!
Our eyes are often fascinated by the glitter and the glare of earthly
vanities. The world puts on her beautiful mask; she attires her head and
paints her face like Jezebel; and it is not always easy, like Jehu, to
detest her, and to say, "Fling her down, and let the dogs consume her!"
As Christians, we are but foreigners and pilgrims in this vain world. How
often we need to fall on our knees, and cry, "My soul clings to the dust.
Quicken me according to Your Word."