Psalm 104: Adam and the Dust

Verse 29: But when you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.

The psalmist confesses that not only has God created all things, but He also takes care of them. The psalmist hears the roar of lions as a cry to God for food. Plants, animals, heaven, and earth all have a relationship with God. Everything obeys God, but humans often fail to do so. Among God's creations, humans seem like a failed work. However, humans are connected to God twice: at birth and at death. This is a fundamental similarity between humans and other creatures. Humans exist within the limits of beginnings and endings. The Bible expresses this in another way: "return to the dust." Dust is a word that best represents the essence and limitations of not only human existence but also other creatures. We often use the term "coram Deo" to refine our spiritual attitude. But have we ever stood before God? It might be better to project our emotions onto the dust. The author or editor of Genesis knew this fact well. When other creatures are created by the word of God, Genesis simultaneously introduces God and the dust while describing humans. Seeing both God and humans in the dust, that is where Genesis and Psalm 104 meet.