MOURNING AND LAMENTATION
[p. 473] MOURNING AND LAMENTATION
A Word given at a Burial Mourning has an important place in Scripture. In many instances it expresses natural affection in bereavement, and the like; but it is also the outcome of feeling in persons concerned in the testimony of God. In this sense it marks the Spirit of Christ, especially in Jeremiah, who represents this feature of our Lord peculiarly. Abraham is the first mourner mentioned in Scripture, hence it is proper to those who have faith. “Devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him”, Acts 8:2.
The passage read is instructive because of the variety of persons mentioned as mourning, or lamenting, for one who had been conspicuous in the service of God. Ascending the throne at the tender age of eight, Josiah in his reign was marked by extraordinary devotedness to Jehovah and zeal for what was due to Him and His house. “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left”, 2 Chronicles 34:2. Although the occasion of the king’s death was not in keeping with his ministry, this did not prevent the people from lamenting it, as the verses read testify so touchingly.
Firstly, Judah: “Judah ... mourned for Josiah”. We have here suggested the people as taken up sovereignly and spared — for the ten tribes had already been captivated. Regarding ourselves in this light, we do well to mourn the loss of one whom God used for the protection and general help of His people.
Secondly, Jerusalem: “Jerusalem mourned for Josiah”. Responsible for the light and government of God within our own circle and in their general bearing, the saints should indeed recognise most feelingly the removal of one who served in these things with divine approval amongst them.
Thirdly, Jeremiah: “Jeremiah lamented for Josiah”. As already said, he “the weeping prophet”, represents the Spirit of Christ seen in His sorrow, and so the mention of him here is specially worthy of note. We may well link it with the supremely touching scene at Bethany, when “Jesus wept”, John 11:35. Being a prophet, Jeremiah conveys the mind of God in this time of grief. We have in him thus the highest level on which mourning can be placed. The feelings of those conversant with the mind of God being moved by the death of a servant indicate that his ministry reached a definite spiritual elevation. The original word for lamented here suggests control in the expression of feeling; intelligence enters into it and so what is measured and suitable is conveyed.
Finally, singing men and singing women mourn. These “spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day”. The memory of the honoured servant is carried down in a manner to touch the affections of later generations. The speaking of singers in their lamentations would be musical. Their lamentations would be occasioned by later occurrences, but they would include Josiah: he and his services would thus be continued in freshness in the minds and hearts of generations following. “They made them an ordinance for Israel”. This is a remarkable statement, as showing that honoured servants should not be forgotten, but held in affectionate remembrance by the people of God. We are enjoined, “Remember your leaders who have spoken to you the word of God”, Hebrews 13:7. “Israel”(the saints viewed spiritually) understand, and thus certain names are cherished among us. “An ordinance” implies what is imperative. “Behold, they are written in the lamentations”. In this we have the assurance that the memory of the valued servant is permanently preserved — not only in the minds of persons, but in writing. This is confirmed in what follows; Josiah’s “good deeds” (the original conveying exceptional quality), “according to that which is written in the law of Jehovah”, being written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.