My soul clings to the dust:
revive me according to your word (Psalm 119:25 NRSV).
Clinging to the dust. In this verse one hears echoes of the curse on the man for eating the fruit, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen. 3:19). Death is imminent for the psalmist who is soon to become worm-food.
What can bring revival to the psalmist’s fading soul? What can bring life where there once was death?
Only the Word of God.
In the 2nd half of this first verse of the Dalet section of Psalm 119 (verses 25-32), the psalmist prays for Torah CPR. Or more timely, Torah Resurrection.
The Word overcomes the curse of death.
This verse has not only echoes of Genesis, but also of the Gospel. I’d like to take credit for planning to discuss this verse in connection with Easter Sunday, but I had nothing to do with it. Random chance? Perhaps. I’d rather see providence.
As one reads Psalm 119:25 it’s hard not to think of Jesus the word (John 1:14) being revived 2000 years ago in order to revive our dusty souls. God’s word triumphs over the human’s curse. Impressive.
How does God’s word revive?
Image from http://radicaljesusfollowers.blogspot.com/2010/12/jesus-word-icon.html