MY SOUL CLEAVETH UNTO THE DUST .

 

EVENING DEVOTION by James Smith

FEBRUARY 17

 

Psalm 119:25

My soul cleaveth unto the dust:

quicken thou me according to the word.

 
How common is the complaint, and how discreditable!
 
What is the world? DUST.
 
Its pleasures,
    profits,
        employments,
            honours, all dust.
 
That is comparatively worthless, beneath an immortal mind, unsuitable to a child of God.
 
Yet our thoughts are filled with them, our affections are entangled by them, and our graces are weakened through them.
 
Worldlings are at home in the dust, they appear to be satisfied with it; but the Christian when he cleaves to it most, is not at home, cannot be satisfied with it.
 
This is a mercy.
 
O to look on high! To rise and plume the wing!
 
To treat the things of time as they deserve!
 
My soul, rouse and shake thyself from the dust, and put on the beautiful garments; It is the say of salvation, thy God calls thee, he waits to hold fellowship with thee, he hath blessings of immense value to bestow upon thee.
 
It is beneath thy dignity to life here.
 
It is contrary to thy profession.
 
It is opposed to thy best interests.
 
Heaven is thy home.
 
Holiness is thy element.
 
The King of kings is thy husband.
 
Glory is thy eternal portion.
 
Earth is but a wilderness through which thou hast to pass; it is not thy rest, it is polluted.
 

Strange that my soul should cleave to dust,

With death and heaven so nigh;

Begone vain world; my spirit must

Ascend to dwell on high.

 
James Smith