Shirley H Wife, mother, veteran in the spiritual war we all face!

Bereavement is a sadness created by a death or regret. When you consider the definition, the Bible is full of bereavement. Let's skip through...

John 1:1, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Genesis 1:31, "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good."

Genesis 3:6, "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food...she took..and ate...She gave to her husband..and he ate." God must have been deprived of His hope or happiness! He had to make a new plan, one that included the sacrifice of His Beautiful Son!

Genesis 23:1-4. Abraham's wife, Sarah, died!

Genesis 37:32-35, Jacob mourned the "death" of Joseph. 

Exodus 12:29, the death of all the first born in Egypt. This must have been devastating! (I think perhaps this is symbolic of all who refuse to believe God's words.)

Leviticus 26, God promises blessings for acknowledging Him and He also promises retribution for irreverence. You will be sad!

Numbers 13:30-33, Caleb, is says, "let's go!" The other spies are afraid!"

Numbers 20:29, Israel mourns Aaron's death.

Deuteronomy 34:8, Moses died. Great man that He was, God could not allow him to enter the promised land! I am sure both Moses and God must have been bereaved. Not to mention the Israelites.

Joshua 7, the people did not trust God! Really sad!

Judges 21:25, "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." Hmm...

2 Samuel 1, the death of Saul, Israel's first King and Jonathan his son, David's friend.

Ruth - her story of sadness turns into a blessing, one applicable even for today's world! Isn't God amazing!

Nehemiah 1:4, "So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days..." Nehemiah's name means " the Lord comforts." God comforts and restores His people over and over...even today!

Think of Job. 7:6, and 13:15, "My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and spent without hope...though He slay me, yet, I will trust Him."

Ecclesiastes shows Solomon's mourning and sadness.

Jeremiah shows the prophet's inner turmoil and anguish. In Lamentations, Jeremiah' s broken heart is revealed. Yet, in chapter 3:26 He says, "It is good that one should hope and wait quietly." Are we hoping and waiting?

Hosea had to deliver a message of judgement, one sure to bring sadness.

Amos, The Day of The Lord! Why? Injustice, alienation, breaking God's heart! Bereaved God! I think we still saddened God today!

BUT... Psalm 23:4, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of death (I don't like it here, do you?) I will fear no evil - for You are with me."

Isaiah 41:13, "For I the Lord your God will hold your right hand. Psalm 16:8, He is at my right hand."

Zechariah 9:11,12 because of your covenant, return to your stronghold, I will restore double to you!

Matthew 9:23-26, the girl is not dead, she is sleeping. (There is hope and life after death!) 

Luke 7:12-15, Jesus has compassion, He knows our sorrows.

John 11:35, Jesus broken heart! He wept, was bereaved!

Acts 9:39, the loving sorrow of the widows weeping for Dorcas.

1Corinthians 15:12-20, AMEN! The hope of the resurrection!

Ephesians 4:3, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit..."The Holy Spirit can feel bereavement!

1 Thessalonians. 4:13-18, believers sleep in Jesus. We comfort others with this hope! 

Revelation 21:3,4 - God will dwell with us and there will be no more tears.

Let's not even mention Lazarus' death, Peter's denial of Jesus. Think of Mary at the foot of Jesus cross. Mary in the garden after the crucifixion. Paul on the road to Damascus! Etc, etc, etc...

Yet! Hope, God had a plan! Wow!

August 04 2020 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

Shirley has given some good examples of bereavement in the Bible. Nave's Topical Bible has this:

Instances of bereavement

Abraham, of Sarah, Gen 23:2.
Jacob, of Joseph, Gen 37:34-35 [though Joseph wasn't really dead yet]
Joseph, of his father, Gen 50:1, 4.
The Egyptians, of their firstborn, Ex 12:29-33.
Naomi, of her husband, Ruth 1:3, 5, 20, 21.
David, of his child by Bath-sheba, 2 Sam 12:15-23; of Absalom, 2 Sam 18:33 (“And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”); 2 Sam 19:4.

November 19 2022 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report