BURIAL CEREMONY IS NOT A FESTIVAL

GREETINGS DEARLY BELOVED

PLS KINDLY STUDY

AND BE BLESSED IN JESUS NAME AMEN

HOLINESS REVIVAL MOVEMENT WORLDWIDE HOREMOW

MONDAY JUNE 27TH

TOPIC: BURIAL CEREMONY IS NOT A FESTIVAL  

     

TEXT: ECCLESIASTES 7:1-4

KEY VERSE: Ecclesiastes 7:2 “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay if to his heart.”

The scripture instructs believers to mourn with them that mourn. Jesus exemplified this at the death of Lazarus. Although Jesus knew that Lazarus was not in hell, but in paradise; He wept at His grave. The scene of his burial was not of joy and feasting, but of sorrow and mourning. When a believer dies the Bible says we should not go into too much sorrow as the people of the world do, seeing that we should surely meet again when the Lord comes. 

The burial ceremony was done differently from that of a feast. Although mourners ate food to sustain themselves during the days of mourning, the attitude of the mourners was different from the attitude of those at a feast. The Bible shows that sorrowful, sober, and thoughtful moods are befitting this occasion and recommends people to the house of mourning to learn wisdom and understanding.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-5

1 A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.

3 Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.

4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Alas, many see the burial ceremony as a period of great feasting and celebration. The mourning state is short-lived or absent. The occasion is turned to that of wearing special clothes, eating, drinking, singing, playing, and dancing. The lessons of life occasioned to be learned in the house of mourning are lost, since the mourning state is lost. 

Those who are bereft suffer in a double sense. Firstly, they suffer the loss of their loved ones, and secondly, they suffer because of condolence. The dancing exhibited during this period has no scriptural backing. Christians must return to soberness and mourning mood during the burial ceremony, so that our God may have the opportunity to teach men the lessons of life. Believers must not copy the world and should steer clear of idolatrous practices. Some people delay burying their dead because they must raise sufficient money and gather a large crowd to make the ceremony flamboyant and ostentatious for personal or family glory.

Thought for the day: Stop feasting and dancing at burials because it is not good

Song for the day: Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Bible reading for the day: Job 10-12; Acts 8:1-25.