By The death of someone close to you is part of life in this fallen world. It is appointed for man to die, and all do. Yet, the godly, who understand this reality better than all the faithless put together, do not despair. The anxious pleas for a life that is passing away, or the mournful tears after the loss of someone close are not the end of the experience of a death for the godly.
No clearer do we see the godly man’s view of death than in the pending death and ultimate loss of David’s little firstborn with Bathsheba. The sins that brought about the pregnancy have been dealt with in repentance (2 Samuel 11:1 – 12:14), but David is about to suffer the loss of his baby.
While the child was still alive, he fasted and prayed for the preservation of the life of the infant (2 Samuel 12:16-17). But after seven days, the baby died. The response of David to the announcement was itself an announcement of his view of death. Instead of sinking into even greater anxiety and despair, David gets up, eats, and goes to worship God.
It is his own explanation of his actions that enlighten us to a very godly view of death. When we lose a loved one, or perhaps fear losing a loved one to death, this is our confidence:
- While there is life, we pray for life to continue (2 Samuel 12:22)
- Death is final (2 Samuel 12:19-21)
- Resurrection is sure (2 Samuel 12:23)
Your theology of life and death needs to be firmly established on Truth for you to respond like the godly in the moment of greatest loss.