I have always struggled with death... particularly untimely or unexpected death. I feel like we all sit around and try to come up with the right things to say to make us feel better, but when it comes down to it, we don't want anyone we care about to die before us. We would prefer not to have to go through loss or grief, but yet somehow we try to trust God's ways are better than our ways.
Last Sunday, Pastor Cook was talking about dealing with death and referenced Isaiah 57. I don't know why I hadn't heard it before or maybe I just wasn't paying attention before, but it starts... "The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."
I found one commentary that said, "Here Isaiah observed that the premature death of a righteous man may well be a loving gift given by the LORD. What a powerful pair of verses to recall or to share when someone we know dies young. What assurance, here in the Old Testament, that upon dying those who walk uprightly 'enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.'"
In the moment, immediately after losing someone, I'm not sure if the scripture would provide comfort, but it is the best I've found. When I think about the people I've known who have died young, it helps to know they have been spared from evil. It is hard for me to be selfish and want them here on my account knowing they would experience pain or suffering.
Last Sunday, Pastor Cook was talking about dealing with death and referenced Isaiah 57. I don't know why I hadn't heard it before or maybe I just wasn't paying attention before, but it starts... "The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death."
I found one commentary that said, "Here Isaiah observed that the premature death of a righteous man may well be a loving gift given by the LORD. What a powerful pair of verses to recall or to share when someone we know dies young. What assurance, here in the Old Testament, that upon dying those who walk uprightly 'enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.'"
In the moment, immediately after losing someone, I'm not sure if the scripture would provide comfort, but it is the best I've found. When I think about the people I've known who have died young, it helps to know they have been spared from evil. It is hard for me to be selfish and want them here on my account knowing they would experience pain or suffering.
Pastor Cook used a story after he did a funeral for a one month old and the family was trying to explain death to her older brother. The boy responded, "I know all that, but I still miss her." And really... I think that's ok... good even. I'm not sure I want to stop missing the people I've lost... but I take comfort in knowing God's ways are better than mine... that they may have been spared from evil. Gone but not forgotten...
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