Christian Reflection and Prayer

Read Psalm 44.

TEXT: You lay me in the dust of death
(see Psalm 22:15).

A clay water pot strikes the ground and shatters. The
precious water pours out in every direction, seeps into
the dust and disappears, leaving only the broken
potsherds behind. In this image King David prophecies
the crucifixion of his great descendent, the Lord Jesus
Christ. We see His very life pour out of His wounds
and disappear into the dust beneath the cross.

When God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden He
strongly warned him against eating the fruit of the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil, saying, "for in the
day that you eat of it you shall surely die" (see
Genesis 2:16-17). When Adam and Eve ate that fruit,
God pronounced their-and our-punishment: "By the
sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return
to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are
dust, and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19).

Because of our sinful nature each of us has forfeited
our lives. We too must die and our bodies be buried in
the ground to return to the dust from which we were
taken. But God provided a substitute sacrifice-the
Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world. Jesus
laid down His life in the dust. His lifeless body, the
broken potsherd, was buried in a borrowed tomb. But
three days later He rose in triumphant victory. Because
He lives forever, all those who trust in Him will live forever
with Him. One day we will die, be buried and return to
the dust (unless Jesus returns first). But Jesus will return
in glory to raise our lowly bodies and make them glorious
like His own.

THE PRAYER:

Lord Jesus Christ, You took on Yourself the punishment
for my sin, being laid in the dust of death that I might live
in Your presence forever. Receive my thanks and praise
now and forever. Amen.

(Lenten Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries)