In spite of the fact that Jehovah has provided for so much that the people could never be worth the exchange of value, Jehovah requires very little. This creates the contrast between what would be expected and what is provided. Once again, it is immensely inequitable. Jehovah, who offers so much value that it could not possibly be balanced, requires very little in return. All He asks is that “ye do keep his commandments.”
Benjamin has moved the more understandable covenant between a people and their king to the covenant with the heavenly king. The heavenly king provides so much that even when the people do keep the commandments, they are blessed for that effort and the imbalance continues.
The people cannot boast of themselves. They cannot balance the scales. The interesting comparison is to the dust of the earth, a common and less than valuable substance. Yet even the dust of the earth is part of Jehovah’s creation. Everything they know ultimately comes from Jehovah. They cannot, of themselves, ever boast that they have earned Jehovah’s blessings. Even doing the simple request of obeying the commandments is insufficient in order to balance the scales. They cannot earn what Jehovah provides. While not stated in the New Testament concept of Grace, it is the Grace of God that is being described.