King David wrote a question he had for God in Psalms 8: 4, what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? David meant that human beings are not worthy of God’s special attention yet God cares for us because he has lodged his Spirit in us. Why did David think we are undeserving of God’s attention as he does?
We were formed of clay
We are without value just as the soils we walk on without regard. The soil assumes some value only subject to what is used for e.g. to support plants, buildings, roads, etc. In like manner, human beings become important only when we are valuable to God. We were formed out of the emptiness of mere soil or bare clay or from dust.
Genesis 2: 7 says then the LORD formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. Adam from whom we trace our ancestry was a mere clay product until he received God’s Spirit of life. So what separates us from ordinary soil, clay or dust is God’s breath or Spirit in us.
Jeremiah 49: 4 says why do you boast in your strength? Your strength is ebbing, O faithless daughter. You trusted in your treasures, saying, “Who will attack me?” Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 4: 7 for who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift? What makes us unique is the gift of God’s Spirit in us.
We don’t control our lives
We are nothing before God because our lives are not even in our hands. In truth our lives are not even ours. God said in Jeremiah 18: 6 says can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the LORD. Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Paul wrote in Romans 9: 21 has the potter no right over clay, to make out to the same lump one object for special use and another for ordinary use? God retains ultimate control over our lives. Like the leaf, we do not know our lifespan. Isaiah 40:6-8 says all people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it, surely the people are grass.
Isaiah 64:6 says… we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. Even our memories shall also soon fade away outside our control. It is written in Job 14: 1-2 a mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble, comes up like a flower and withers, flees like a shadow and does not last. We are truly nothing but miserable beings without grace.
We don’t understand life
Only God understands his purpose for us. Jeremiah 29: 11 says for surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Because we don’t understand life, we are never satisfied. Psalms 39: 6 says… they heap up, and do not know who will gather.
David wrote in Psalms 139: 13 for it was you (God) who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. Let us empty ourselves before God to fill us in for we are nothing before God?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, until you gave us breath through Adam, we were nothing but mere clay. Yet you have graciously made us to superintend your creation even when we are not trustworthy. We therefore empty ourselves before you too and pray that you fill us with the Holy Spirit so we may be humbled in you. Help us to know you more so we may be valuable to you. In your name we pray, Amen!!
0 Comments