Like Father, Like Father, Like Son, Like Son

Scripture:
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
Psalm 103:15-16

Observation: Psalm 103 is a song of praise, attributed to David. It is introduced as being "of David" and the general theological consensus is that David wrote the song during his later years. It is a wonderful song, full of praise ... one that could be imagined to be sung by the Levites when Hezekiah rededicated the temple (another reading today).

Interestingly, here in the middle of it are lines about mortal life. These are explicitly about the temporal nature of humans, comparing us to grass and flowers, that are here today, then dead tomorrow, even their remnants blown away by the wind, and the flowers themselves unremembered. Well ... this is an insight straight out of Ecclesiastes. The teacher of Ecclesiastes says the same thing multiple times in discussing both the brevity and pointlessness of human life, and even uses the metaphor of both grass and flowers.

And we know who wrote Ecclesiastes ... Solomon. So where did Solomon get this lessons? His father, David. And where did David get this lesson? His father ... the Lord. However, in this fun little analysis of sons learning from their fathers, there will be another son who will someday come along and also use this same metaphor, but with a very new addition to the interpretation. Yes, Jesus will tell us to consider the flowers that decorate a field even more beautifully than Solomon's robes, which are here today and gone tomorrow ... and consider the grass that grows today then is cut and thrown into the fire tomorrow ... and Jesus will tell us that, in fact, we are far more valuable to the father than any field or flowers, and that we are actually seen, actually loved, and actually eternal.

Application: This is, indeed, the difference Jesus makes in the world. While this was always the Lord's intent for reconciling mankind, even the men closest to him, like David, or the men with God's own wisdom, like Solomon, didn't yet understand salvation the way Jesus brings it into the world.

Even as I am, flawed and troubled, I am more valuable than the most beautiful field of wildflowers, free of the destiny of simply dying and being forgotten like a flower that withers and is blown away by wind. I am instead saved by grace, through faith in Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your love and your salvation offered through Jesus. You are my Lord, and I do and will follow you. Amen.