Bereavement, God’s comfort in

God comforts the bereaved and the sorrowful

;

Lamentations 3:32–33 KJV 1900

32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. 33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

See also ; ;

Mourning turned into joy

Psalm 30:11 KJV 1900

11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

See also ; ;

John 16:20 KJV 1900

20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

Despair turned into hope

“Falling asleep” was a euphemistic way of talking about dying.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 KJV 1900

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

Fear turned into assurance

; In the OT, death was generally feared because it meant the loss of meaningful existence. However, like several references, this one looks beyond the grave and anticipates NT hope for all who trust in God; Paul’s conclusion after working through the implications of the gospel.

Psalm 23:4 KJV 1900

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Isaiah 25:8–9 KJV 1900

8 He will swallow up death in victory; And the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; And the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: For the Lord hath spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; We have waited for him, and he will save us: This is the Lord; we have waited for him, We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

See also ; ; ; ;

Revelation 21:4 KJV 1900

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

God’s care for widows and orphans

;

See also ; ; ;

Jesus Christ cared for the bereaved

; At the grave of his friend, Lazarus.

See also

Caring for the bereaved

Special provisions in the law for the bereaved;

See also ; ; The early church provided for widows in the fellowship with a special fund; ;

1 Timothy 5:3 KJV 1900

3 Honour widows that are widows indeed.

James 1:27 KJV 1900

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.