Psalm 6 Continued…
David writes in this psalm: “No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave?” (verse 5) That word “grave” is the Hebrew word “Sheol.” Sheol is both a place and a state of being. It literally means the “place of the dead.”
Much is made by some of what happens after we die. And good Christians have differing opinions on the exact details. Here in this Psalm and in verse 6, sheol is merely a synonym for death or the grave. When a believer dies, his soul is immediately greeted by angels who take him to be in the presence of Christ (see Luke 16:22). Paul communicated the idea that to “be absent from the body is to be with Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
This, for me, is the most encouraging belief we have. I do not accept the idea of a purgatory state for the dead or a “holding tank.” I believe, the believer’s inheritance begins at death. King David was certain of this same hope of being with the God he loved immediately upon death. As you read Psalm 23, the last verse states: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Note, for David, he saw no pause between the end of his days and being in God’s presence after his days were done.
Our greatest hope in this life is that we will be with God forever. That, of course, is made possible only because of what Jesus has done for us. There are times in this hard fallen world that truth of a life that immediately begins after this one is what can help us put one foot in front of the other to keep trudging on. We know one day we will be with Christ. And, when we die, we will not have to wait for that to happen.
He is our hope! His presence is the best gift. And on that great day, we will know him more richly, more fuller than we have ever known him. What a glorious thought!
PRAY
Thank you Father for the hope that we have in life with you after this one. Thank you for the encouragement that brings to us even as we may lie weeping in our bed because of the sorrows of this. Help us to hold on to this truth as the weight of this sin-filled world is felt by us all.