Human beings live in a “double whammy” condition due to the depravity of our nature. One whammy happens because we lack ability to do better and meet the moral standards of God, and the second whammy occurs when we lack the desire to do better because we think we’re doing just fine. The Psalmist describes God’s tenderness to His children by knowing who we are and the constitution of our frame. (Psalm 103:13-14) He understands our lack of ability, and He knows that our brokenness proves itself daily. This frail condition is no reason to lay down and give up, nor is it an excuse to cease trying to do better. Rather, it indicates to us that expectations should be tempered but coupled with lofty goals. We should still strive for the perfect mark of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:13-14) but understand that failure still comes.
Knowing: The Psalmist says that God knows our frame. Simply put, He made man, and knows the weakness of that constitution that has been wrecked by sin and death. One of the things that fathers know about their children is that they are incapable of doing what grownups can do. It is sometimes amusing to see children strive for things higher than they are, sometimes it’s sad seeing them fail and stumble, and other times it is maddening seeing them pursue the same folly again and again. Seeing these occurrences gives us a glimpse of how our Father sees our striving, stumbling, and insane life patterns. God has never condoned sin, and His justice and judgment will never be put in a corner. However, due to the grace and compassion He has for His children, He knows what we can’t do, and has provided through His Son the means whereby His banished will not be put away from Him forever. (II Samuel 14:14)
Remembering: Coupled with what God knows, He also remembers that we are dust. Sometimes parents lay upon their children something beyond their ability to perform. Parents make mistakes, but our Father due to His perfect knowledge and remembrance knows exactly what we can and can’t do. The things we can’t do, He has mercifully done for us so that justice is satisfied and free grace and mercy extended. Today, the things required of us are things that we are fully capable of performing, and it behooves us as the children of the living God to do as He has commanded us do. (I Corinthians 10:13) No matter the situation, what He has promised He performs, and what He commands, He expects us to perform. While we still don’t live up to that, there is still new mercy every morning because He remembers who and what we are. Again, justice is not put in a corner, but God’s family is perfectly in order through the work of His Son and our performance will not affect that relationship, though it has great effects on our fellowship.
Something More: When the Psalmist talked about God’s parental care and keeping of us, it is implied in the verse that something more is involved. Why does God have such pity and compassion through our weak and miserable failings? The answer to that is in what is not said. The Psalmist did not say “we are but dust.” He said “we are dust.” Had he written that we are but dust, that would be the extent of who and what we are. However, we are more than that. God has placed something inside of this old dust that is ever new, renewed daily, and bears the image of Christ. (Colossians 1:23) The compassion that our Father has for us is that His eye sees through these broken frames to the very face of His Son staring back at Him. When our souls look upward, it is Christ’s countenance that looks homeward and heavenly. When this old dust goes back to corruption, something flies away and is at rest. Because of this blessed fact, we can do, we can act, and we can perform. Paul understood His own failings, but he also understood the power that was within him by God’s mercy and grace to be able to do all things through that great strength. (Philippians 4:13)
The human condition can be a comedy or a tragedy depending on the season and someone’s particular mood. A wise old elder now at home in heaven used to say, “Life is a comedy to those who think, and a tragedy to those who feel.” I have lived both ends of that spectrum. However, the human condition does not change the infallible and immutable character of God. He abides. When we look at and approach another day of our existence, it should focus on the hope of what has been done, what is real today, and what is coming some sweet day in the future. Today’s burdens can be borne, not because of who we are, but because of what He has made us. The hopes of what will be can be exercised not because of what we have accomplished but because of what He has promised. When you fail, remember that He remembers. When you stumble, know that He knows. When you feel miserable about who you are and what you have done, understand that His pity abides with us. A modern poet wrote a mantra that has become precious to me as I’ve grown older, “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”