Reading:
And
it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of
David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while
the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our
voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is
dead? But when David saw that his
servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David
said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed,
and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house
of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he
required, they set bread before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, What thing is
this that thou hast done? thou didst fast and weep for the child, while it
was alive; but when the child was dead, thou didst rise and eat bread. And he said, While the child was yet alive,
I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious
to me, that the child may live? But now
he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to
him, but he shall not return to me.
Commentary:
The
death of child, even an infant, is one of the greatest trials for Christians to
endure. We reason the poor child never
had a chance, and how terrible to die at such a young age. In David's case it was worse, for this child
was conceived by his adultery, and God through Nathan told David, "Because
by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to
blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die." When such events happen in our life, it is
God's grace alone which upholds and sustains us. When the newborn child was thus sick, David
knew and prayed through Christ, that God would spare the child, for "who
can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" God can always change His mind for Christ's
sake. Yet the child died. Doesn't this mean God was not gracious? Here we answer no, for a short life on earth
and an early entrance into heaven is not punishment but a blessing. It was for Christ's sake, through God's
promise of the Seed, David trusted the child was now in heaven. "Christ died for all", and that
includes infants who die early, or those of a miscarriage. This does not mean we reject Baptism assuming
all children go to heaven without it, for they are still born in sin. Rather it means when the offspring of
Christians die prematurely (in the womb or before Baptism), we trust for
Christ's sake and our prayers through Christ, God has delivered that soul to
heaven. As David therefore prayed for
his child before his death, let us pray for ours (even when they are in the
womb), that God for Christ's sake will give them eternal life.
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