Resting With the Forefathers
Read Genesis 25:8, 2 Samuel 7:12, 1 Kings 2:10, and 1 Kings 22:40.
What do these texts add to your understanding of death?
The Old Testament expresses in different ways the ideas of death and
burial. One way is the notion of being gathered to one’s own people.
For example, about Abraham, we are told that he “breathed his last and
died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered
to his people” (Gen. 25:8, NKJV). Aaron and Moses also were gathered
to their respective people (Deut. 32:50).
What does the fact that both good and bad kings went to the same
place at death teach us about the nature of death? (2 Kings 24:6,
2 Chron. 32:33).
Another way of describing death is by stating that someone rested
with the forebearers. About King David’s death, the Bible says that he
“rested with his fathers, and was buried in the City of David” (1 Kings
2:10, NKJV). The same expression also is used in reference to several
other Hebrew kings, both faithful kings and unfaithful kings.
We can identify at least three meaningful aspects of resting with the
forebearers. One is the idea that sooner or later the time will come when we
need to rest from our own tiring labors and sufferings. Another idea is that
we are not the first and only ones to follow that undesirable trail, because
our forebearers already have gone ahead of us. A third idea is that, by being
buried close to them, we are not alone but remain together even during
the unconsciousness of death. This might not make much sense to some
modern individualist cultures, but it was very meaningful in ancient times.
Those who die in Christ can be buried close to their loved ones, but
even so there is no communication between them. They will remain
unconscious until that glorious day when they will be awakened from
their deep sleep to rejoin their loved ones who died in Christ.
Imagine what it would be like if the dead were actually conscious
and could see what life was like down here, especially for their
loved ones, who often suffer terribly after their death. Why, then,
should the truth that the dead sleep be so comforting to the living?
