And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and it became ill.
The Death of David's Son
16David therefore pleaded with God for the child, and David fasted and went in and lay all night on the ground. 17So the elders of his house arose and went to him, to raise him up from the ground. But he would not, nor did he eat food with them. 18Then on the seventh day it came to pass that the child died. And the servants of David were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "Indeed, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not heed our voice. How can we tell him that the child is dead? He may do some harm!"
19When David saw that his servants were whispering, David perceived that the child was dead. Therefore David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?"
And they said, "He is dead."
20So David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house; and when he requested, they set food before him, and he ate. 21Then his servants said to him, "What is this that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you arose and ate food."
22And he said, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, "Who can tell whether the LORD[a] will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' 23But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."
2 Samuel 12:16-23
While Terri Schiavo lived, we fasted and prayed and sought for her defense. Now that she has died, we should do as David did and get ourselves up and worship the Lord.It was not His will to save her from this injustice. The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. Blessed be His name for giving and taking the life of Terri Schiavo. May He grant great comfort, and a fuller revelation of Himself to those who mourn for her. May He also grant that all of us learn from this experience and do what He calls each of us to do to prevent things like this from happening again. May He teach us to protect the voiceless, value human life, even when it is possessed by those who can do so little, and may He cause us to recoil from the dehumanization of the severely disabled. May He grant us the clear view of our own poverty that will allow us to view the poverty of others with charity and humility.
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
I share this verse because there are many who may be tempted now to view the government, or specifically the judiciary with fear. But dear Christians, we must act and react not out of fear of earthly powers, but of the God who raises up kings and takes them down, the God who saves souls and condemns them. This is the same God who promises that all things, even the difficult things, will all ultimately work out for the eternal good of His people--the people who love Him, the people He loves.
When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:13,14
God has sent a pestilence of death upon us. We have killed our children. We have killed the voiceless and the helpless. Terri Schiavo is only one of many. So with fear and trembling, let His people worship Him now, confessing the sin of our land and asking for His mercy and His healing.
Very insightful post! The scriptures also say, with man this seems impossible but with God all things are possible, (pardon my paraphrase). Your point is well put that we need not fear those who kill the body, such as our failing judiciary, all we need do is be faithful to God and His Word.
As we come away from this Easter season, we must remember that Christ has won the victory, death cannot claim us for we are Christ's. David's example is a good one for us as we continue on and learn to fight the spiritual battles and wage righteous warfare against evil which God has entrusted to us. May we be found faithful even unto the death.
Posted by: Truthseeker | March 31, 2005 at 09:24 PM
During a dark and rainy week that began with Palm Sunday, and finished as an Easter drama too eery in likeness to the original, I read of Florida judges who turned away a tearful Schindler family, literally begging for the life of their daughter, Terri. Although there is no way to experience the pain borne by the Schindlers, who watched their own child dying, I too was disappointed and saddened -- crushed, really -- and angered with doctors and some newspapers, as well as judges, for what I personally view as cowardice and ignorance -- for their collective inabilities to confront a real, life and death issue with knowledge and understanding, with intelligence and wisdom.
I will remember the hollow sound of Jeb Bush repeating, "we will do all we can, within the law," as life continued to drain from Terri's defenseless body. And I will be hard pressed to know why it remains fashionable to wrap ourselves in a flag and posture, "we want judges who follow the law -- not interpret the law." But I shall least forget the pivotal role of a faceless finder of fact (the trial judge, I assume), who should have asked more questions with personal strength and humility, done more research with integrity and determination. When some time has passed, I shall be grateful if someone -- if anyone -- explains to me how "a nation of laws" and social justice is beneficially served by the unblinking execution of Theresa Marie Schindler Schiavo.
Posted by: shokenjii | March 31, 2005 at 10:33 PM
Amen, Dory. You're right that we have to trust God and get on with his work.
For another moving post on the effects of Terri's death (although he wrote it while she was still living), see "The End of Terri Schiavo" at Sprucegoose. Peace.
Posted by: Milton Stanley | March 31, 2005 at 11:50 PM