My desire for a few posts is to examine the Biblical description and admonition regarding grieving during the death of a loved one. I hope to do this by looking at David, Job, Jesus, and Paul. And in so doing, find the Biblical pattern for our own grieving. Each day I will present a text with a few comments to follow…
Grieving Prior To Death {David for his infant child (2 Samuel 12:13-23)}
David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house. And the Lord afflicted the child that Uriah’s wife bore to David, and he became sick. 16 David therefore sought God on behalf of the child. And David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17 And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us. How then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm.” 19 But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David understood that the child was dead. And David said to his servants, “Is the child dead?” They said, “He is dead.” 20 Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. 21 Then his servants said to him, “What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food.” 22 He said, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ 23 But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me.”
Thought #1: God’s providence reigns over all circumstances and situations of life (Vv 14-15, 22-23).
Thought #2: It is proper to seek God for His grace during times of uncertainty, sickness, and trouble (Vv 16-17).
Thought #3: It is okay to go through, and express, our emotional heart break when we are distraught. We do not have to hide these feelings or “be strong for others” (V 18).
Thought #4: The proper response regarding grief is to praise and worship God! For us in our day, being in God’s house worshipping after the loss of a loved one is best, right, and proper (V 20).
Thought #5: David had a good heaven theology and this is what helped him during his grief resolution (V 23).
Personal Application #1: My walk with God prior to stressful life events is what will sustain and keep me during stressful life events.
Personal Application #2: Submission to God’s will is what will sustain me when hardship has taken place… because I know, “No good thing does God withhold from (His children).” If God causes or allows it into my life then it will glorify Him and must be ultimately good for me (Romans 8:28)!
Personal Application #3: Having a good heaven theology will sustain me during the most difficult of times (Colossians 3:2-4).
ESV