The Way God Handled GriefSample

CORPORATE MOURNING

“When Samuel died, all Israel gathered to mourn for him; and they buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David set out and went down to the Wilderness of Paran.” I Samuel 25:1.

Whenever a President, King, Emperor, Queen, or other essential leader of a nation dies, thousands gather to pay tribute throughout the days leading up to the funeral and burial. Most recently, Catholics and people of many faiths paid tribute to Pope Francis, who passed away. This is how it was in Bible times as well. When Samuel died, scripture tells us that “all of Israel” gathered to mourn for him.

How one determines to lay their loved one to rest is personal; some go all out, and others have private burials. There is no right or wrong way unless the deceased made a request before their death, as did Joseph.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt.” Genesis 50:24-26

The beautiful thing about those in Christ is that we know the separation is temporary and that we are not without hope. Whether we mourn corporately or privately, we can cling to the promise in God’s Word.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.” I Thessalonians 4:13

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Takeaway: Allowing friends and family to comfort us in loss is a part of the healing process. That is why many chose to have a more corporate farewell, yet knowing Christ is the most empowering way to face the death that He conquered!