“I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.” 2 Sam.12:23
My mother died last week, on Monday 2 December. Even though she had lived a full life and finished her innings just 3 shy of a century, there was pain. Actually a dull kind of ache persisting in a twilight continuum that slows one down and renders her/him in a state of mild stupefaction and daze.
Is this just the close of the chapter
or the end of the book
why that vacant look
at times far-gazing and forlorn
the shaking of head from left to right
and again from right to left
for no definite reason
the wringing of hands
maudlin, wan expression
movement like a zombie
David was in a far worse condition. In his case, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick. 2 Sam.12:15
16 David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in, and lay all night upon the earth.
17 And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.
18 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died.
19 But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead.
20 Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the Lord, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
21 Then said his servants unto him, What thing is this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread.
22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?
23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
I shall go to him
A farsighted expression of faith and hope in Old Testament times.
It was centuries later -after the revelation of Jesus Christ and his own dramatic conversion – that Paul pens in his letter to the Thessalonian church that “the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord“. 1 Thess. 4: 16-17
Seen in hindsight, it is evident that David was both king and prophet (Acts 2:30). Amazing! And what do you know, he was a sinner too! See Ps.51:
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.”
Verse 18 of the epistle to the Thessalonians chapter referred, exhorts us to comfort one another with the assertion Paul makes.
In the verses preceding Paul is absolutely categorical: But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep (i.e. dead), lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
This hope is neatly captured and encapsulated in the Apostle’s Creed as well: “I believe in the …………. resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting”
Would to God you belong to the group of people who call themselves saved / redeemed and have full confidence in reciting the Creed above. Remember, “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
What do YOU believe?