Articles
I Shall Go To Him
I Shall Go To Him
2 Samuel 12:23
While the child of David and Bathsheba lay sick, David sought the LORD. He fasted and lay all night on the ground. On the 7th day the child died.
When David understood that the child had died, he got up, washed, anointed himself, changed his clothes, went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. When his servants asked about this behavior, David responded: "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?’ But now he is dead. Why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (2Sam. 12:22-23).
David didn't say "I shall die even as he died", rather "I shall go to him". There seems to be an understanding on David's part that he and the child would be united again someday.
While the child died, he did not cease to exist. The Ecclesiastes writer speaks of death saying: "the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The body without the spirit is dead (James 2:26), but the spirit is not dead. As with Lazarus and the rich man, when people die the body is buried but the spirit continues to exist complete with personality and knowledge. (see Luke 16). The souls of the martyrs were pictured as crying out with a loud voice unto our Sovereign Lord (Rev. 6:9-10). Thus David could speak of someday going to him.
In speaking of children, Jesus said that 'of such is the kingdom of heaven' (Matt. 19:14). They are spoken of as 'the innocent ones' (Psalm 106:37-38). In speaking of the children of the Israelites it is written that they have "no knowledge of good or evil" (Deut. 1:39). Such gives us confidence in the relationship between God and little children.
The death of our loved ones, especially children, is hard to deal with. Many turn against God at that point in their life. David turned TO God. The assurance of the child's relationship with God could only prompt worship on David's part. To be faithful unto the LORD would be the only way of going to be with the child again. They would both be with the LORD.
Paul speaks of this in 1 Thess. 4:13-18. In dealing with the death of loved ones, Christians have a different outlook and hope. Hence we do not sorrow like unbelievers. We indeed sorrow, but it is a sorrow mixed with hope. Their body is dead, but they are with God. God will bring them back at the 2nd coming and we shall join them to ever be with the LORD. What a glorious thought. We CAN go to them. We will be together with our LORD forever. Comfort one another with these words.
