Dust or Glory

Selah:

Sacred Songs of the Psalter

Max A Forsythe

^© Anno Domini 2005

From the pulpit at Pilgrim’s Rest

Presbyterian Church in America

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Introduction: While these verses are not considered proof texts for the first question of The Shorter Catechism, still – the same theological sentiment is here. “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever,” reads the catechism’s answer to the purpose of mankind. Do you see it there in the last words of verse nine? “Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?”

My Translator’s Handbook notes that “Sheol, the world of the dead, was pictured as a place of darkness and dust. “ This is the pit from which David prays avoidance. Even as impertinent as these verses appear, we have to realize that David is speaking from his heart to his best friend: the God of Creation and glory. It is always with our “bestest” friends, as an old Army buddy insisted on saying it – that we open our hearts, knowing full well, no matter the language, words or attitude: we may be understood. Even if in the back of our imperfect minds we say things we ordinarily would not – still our best friends will not take offense.

But, of course David only suffers a momentary relapse in the relationship between Creator and creature. Even before the words of verse nine are finished, he returns to the proper attitude and pleads his case before the awesome throne where grace and mercy may always be anticipated by those who know to whom they speak.

Am I dust or an expression of Your glory, David appears to be asking. To what end have You created me – David wonders out loud in the midst of being disciplined by providential events.

Development: But ever and anew, David knows to whom he should pray: “To You, O Lord, I cry, and to the Lord I made supplication:” As Spurgeon well notes: “Prayer is the unfailing resource of God’s people. If they are driven to their wits’ end, they may still go to the mercy-seat. When an earthquake makes our mountain tremble, the throne of grace still stands firm, and we may come to it.”

David cries, the text reads, much as we might imagine a little child not yet able to frame the necessary words. My grandson is learning the language slowly now, but he is beginning to make his wants known. When he says “hot dog,” you know that any food pushed into his little mouth will be appreciated. Last week at a picnic – I was able to try eight different items in a row and he was content with the various “hot dogs.” Oh do we ever realize the limits of our own vocabulary when we come to the Lord God of all creation? And yet, no matter how primitive our cries – He hears and answers us with blessings undeserved.

But, yet – David as we well know is no spiritual infant. Even though he is moved to the most primitive sound of anguish, he goes on to make his supplications to the Lord of all the earth known.

And so, he simply sits it out, regardless of the impertinence, regardless of the One to whom he is praying. “What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?” I’m dying here, David is saying – spiritually dying even in the face of knowing the Lord of all the earth. Do you see the rude humanity of David’s assumption? Here was one after the Lord’s own heart, here was one lifted against all obstacles to the kingship of all Israel. Here was the one to whom it would be promised – his greater Son would rule not only the earth, but also the highest heavens.

Certainly, we all know from bitter experience that God never leaves us without a reason. And the most prominent reason is the fact that as the New Testament aptly records, we are constantly going astray. How dare any mere man, even one who was a king – come into the presence of the awesome holy God with such a question: “What profit is there in my blood?” Perhaps we should put this outburst in the most plausible context: a rededication of David’s house upon his return from subduing Absalom’s revolt.

David of course is limited in his vision and understanding of how the Lord God will attain the everlasting kingdom through his mortal seed. But, any untimely demise that places one not of David’s choosing and training could perhaps spell disaster in the final accomplishment of God’s greater intended and still unknown goal.

In the consternations related to the fulfillment of God’s promises, God at least can excuse the impious outburst. After all, what need does God have for one voice, even a kingly voice to sing His eternal praises? But David continues his diatribe: “Will the dust praise You? Will it proclaim Your faithfulness?”

Once his body has been reduced to the dust of the earth, from which it was made, will there still be a voice from David to praise the God of heaven. If there is nothing in David’s future except a return to the dust, what will that say of God’s faithfulness towards him? You have created me for a purpose Lord: to praise, glorify and enjoy You forever!

Application: Having opened up the depths of his heart, he does not demand satisfaction, but instead he returns to pleading God’s grace and salvation. “Hear, O Lord, and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my savior!”

Three things he humbly asks. First, that the Lord God of heaven and earth will hear his prayer. Second, that the Lord will demonstrate the blessings of His grace on his life, office and cause. And last of all, he begs salvation from the Lord. Calvin notes that in this tenth verse, “the Psalmist softens and corrects his former complaint; for it would have been absurd to expostulate with God like one who despaired of safety, and to leave off in this fretful temper.”

How often had we to discipline our little ones in the midst of a temper tantrum? Perhaps, it even got to a situation where an angry outburst claimed that one we dearly loved even hated us? Yes, that is hard to take – in families and even within Christ’s Church. Here we can begin to understand the mind and heart of God to a limited extent. Certainly, we would not take seriously any statements of our little ones in the extremes of temper – but we would certainly take steps to bring them out of it by the proper application of loving discipline upon their posterior and in discipleship afterwards.

Do we realize the twofold forgiveness for David in regards to the situation in which he finds himself? First of course, is the sudden realization that he had taken God’s given prosperity for granted. Thus, he had rightfully punished. But then, in the outburst of the discourse in these verses he raises questions about his future in a way that is not only impolite, but pointedly aimed at the very love and purpose of God who had raised him up for the glory of His service.

When we read the last petition in verse ten, we realize how barely saved David was. And yet, in the public humiliation of Absalom’s coup d’etat David learns an essential lesson. Every thing we are and have comes from the grace and mercy of our Lord God. He it is who determines if we return to dust or come home in glory. May we like David learn our lessons well and pray for the glory that only the Son can give in and through His shed blood. And let us be thankful for the salvation known by David, as our own. Amen.

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