REMARKS AT THE GRAVE
REMARKS AT THE GRAVE
One is reminded by this solemn occasion of the place that burial has in the Scriptures. The Holy Spirit has marked the subject. In Genesis 23 we have the account of the burial of Sarah, the first burial recorded, and much mention is made of the purchase by Abraham of the possession of a sepulchre, as if God would mark off the thought of burial as belonging to faith. Throughout Genesis, from the chapter mentioned, it has a great place; all the men of faith had it in mind; not only the fact of burial, but the place of it; and the place, as I said, was acquired on the principle of purchase, with money “current with the merchant”. Genesis 23:16 Not only was the actual cave purchased in which the persons of faith were to be interred, but the field, as if God had [p. 170] anticipated the love of His people for their dead. It is suggested in our present position here, a place where we can meet, so that there may be an ample expression of affection and respect in the burial of our dead — not the dead — the burial of them is left; the Lord says: “Let the dead bury their dead”. Matthew 8:22. The Lord will have to say to all who have died in unbelief. They have had to do with Him here in the gospel period, but that does not end their relations with Him. He has rights in regard of the future over the dead, for they shall all stand before Him as He sits on the great white throne (Revelation 20:11) — a very solemn matter for those who are dead characteristically. Scripture is not occupied with their burial. Much was made of burial in Egypt, but what you find in the Scriptures is this, that where God asserted His will over man in the law, and there was disregard of that will, there was no burial; their carcases were strewn in the desert. Great pains are taken in the burials of those of the world to deprive death of its awfulness, but with regard to those who disregarded the will of God, those who did not hearken to the word because of unbelief, the Holy Spirit uses the most humiliating term, “they were strewed in the desert”; 1 Corinthians 10:5 whereas those of faith who died in the wilderness, such as Moses, Aaron and Miriam, were carefully buried. God Himself undertook to bury Moses, a most touching thing, showing the place that burial has in the divine thought. With regard to the saints, even the place of burial is of importance. Jude tells us that Michael disputed with the devil in regard to the body of Moses, as if the enemy would use, or misuse, the bodies of the saints. Unbelief brought out the humiliating spectacle of carcases strewn in the desert, but the bodies of the saints are never regarded in that way. “Many bodies of the saints which slept arose, ... and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many”. Matthew 27:52,55 This is recorded after the Lord’s resurrection, for He must be pre-eminent in all things, and particularly so in regard to resurrection. “Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming”. 1 Corinthians 15:23 It is said that Stephen kneeled down and prayed, saying: “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge”. He maintained the character of the dispensation in this wonderful prayer, after saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit”. Saying these words, he fell asleep. Then the saints, like ourselves today, carry him to his burial and make great lamentation over him. We are not here without feeling. One has been taken away from us who had part in this service, who ministered to the will of God in his generation, as we have already said, and we feel and mourn our loss. The more devout we are the more we feel it. But the Lord Jesus has received his spirit, as He received Stephen’s, and our part is to bury him, as we now do, knowing that he will come forth in the resurrection of life when Christ comes for His own.
There was a young man who stood there and held the clothes of those who stoned the martyr — one who afterwards says of himself: “By the grace of God I am what I am”. 1 Corinthians 15:10 At a time like this God may have some young man (or more) in view, to take up the service laid down, to fill the void which has been made, whose heart the Lord has touched with the needed grace, that the testimony may be carried on!