Homilist 2 Samuel 12:23 But 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. The context shows David in two aspects. First: Suffering as a sinner. He had committed a great sin, and the loss of his child was a retribution. Secondly: Reasoning as a saint, "And he said, While the child was yet alive." The text implies David's belief in three things. I THE UNRETURNABLENESS OF THE DEAD. The dead return not again. "I shall behold man no more in the land of the living," said Hezekiah. 1. There is no returning to discharge neglected duties. 2. There is no returning to recover lost opportunities. If there is no return to the earth — (1) How foolish it is to set our hearts upon it. (2) How important to finish its work as we go on. II. IN THE CERTAINTY OF HIS OWN DISSOLUTION. "I shall go to him." 1. The certainty of death is universally admitted with the understanding. There is no room left for questioning it. 2. The certainty of death is universally denied by the life. All men live as if they were immortal. How morally infatuated is our race! III. IN THE RE-UNION AFTER DEATH. "I shall go to him." 1. The re-union he believed in was spiritual. 2. The re-union he believed in was conscious. 3. The re-union he believed in was happy. (1) He believed that his child was happy. (2) He believed that he was safe, He felt that he should go to him, be with him in that happy world.Let these thoughts of death aid us to fulfil the mission of life. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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