A Lesson on Death and Perspective

Introduction:

Death comes for us all, the only thing that men fear more than death is public speaking, etc.

There are many fears of death in our age.

One famous quote that summarizes many people’s view of death is from the play Macbeth:

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more: it is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

It is true that our lives are short and often don’t have the meaning the world would seek (James 4:14 — “whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”).

One of my personal favorite sermons on death was preached by King David in 2 Samuel 12:15-23.

Many have questioned this passage due to the fact that under the Law of Moses, David should be killed for his adultery.

The punishment for adultery was made quite clear under the law of Moses (Leviticus 20:10 — “The man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.”).

The conditions for execution for the crime of the adultery under the OT was for there to be two witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6 — “Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.”).

The circumstance however was that David did not have two witnesses and therefore legally “got away with it.”

There are a few other factors as well.

This is the only case where a child was sentenced to death by the Lord individually.

God has said that one would not bear the guilt of his father (Ezekiel 18:20 — “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.”).

This was brought about in response to David’s giving an occasion of the Lord’s enemies to blaspheme (2 Samuel 12:14).

David’s house was given the promise from the Lord through Nathan the prophet, this moment likely was given to hearken back to the promise David was given (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

The other main issue was that sin requires consequences, a life taken and a life was required.

This is shown as a type of David’s lineage covering his sin (John 1:29 — “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”).

David deserved death, and yet the Lord saved him at the expense of his descendant (2 Samuel 12:13-14).

This was not God’s evil by killing a child, only God has the right to give life and to take it (1 Samuel 2:6 — “The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and brings up.”).

Discussion:

Lessons on Death

There is a time for mourning (Ecclesiastes 3:4 — “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”).

David is not mocked, ridiculed, or attacked by his mourning the coming loss of his child (Romans 12:15 — “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.”).

The Lord has always been compassionate to those in mourning (Psalm 34:18 — “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.”).

Jesus had compassion on those who mourned (Luke 7:13 — “When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, ‘Do not weep.’”).

Jesus Himself mourned (John 11:35 — “Jesus wept.”).

Mourning is natural in the face of loss (Genesis 23:2 — “So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba… and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.”).

Some have said that Christians should not mourn.

The text often cited is 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

This text does not discourage mourning but rather directs it.

The other lesson is that prayer in the face of inevitable circumstances is not wasteful.

God told David through Nathan the child would die and yet David still prayed stating that who can tell whether the Lord will be gracious (2 Samuel 12:22).

This is shown in multiple examples of scripture:

Abraham petitioning the Lord for Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-32).

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:41-44).

Paul’s thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

Death should not be viewed as finality but as a temporary separation.

When one dies they put on a new life (2 Corinthians 5:1 — “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”).

Lessons on Perspective

Sorrow more for the living not for the dead (Ecclesiastes 4:2).

We often have a backwards view of life.

Death is not the end of us but the beginning of our life with God (Philippians 1:21-23 — “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain… having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.”).

Death is not something to be feared as an enemy but welcomed as a friend (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 — “Death is swallowed up in victory. ‘O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’”).

The living face consistent challenges and evils that hinder our path to the Lord and for many derail it (John 16:33 — “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”).

We face fear which hinders righteousness (Proverbs 29:25 — “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”).

We face the weight of choice (Joshua 24:15 — “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”).

We face anxiety of which choice is right or wrong (Philippians 4:6-7 — “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”).

We face time (Psalm 90:12 — “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”).

We face uncertainty (Proverbs 27:1 — “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”).

Deal with what we can and leave what we can’t up to the Lord.

David understood that only the Lord could handle what he was facing (Psalm 55:22 — “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.”).

After doing what he could, he moved on (2 Samuel 12:20).

Know that the only one whose fate you can control is yours.

Most anxieties and stresses are based in the desire to control what we cannot (Matthew 6:34 — “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”).