Funeral: "Home at last" (Ps 23:6b)

FUNERAL MEDITATION: "HOME AT LAST" (Ps 23:6b)

pdf

Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

Where below you read "the deceased" Pastor Manuel

inserted the name of the individual.

In Ps 23, David draws from his own boyhood experience tending his father's sheep, and paints a vivid picture of pastoral life. As a shepherd leads his flock, he looks for "green pastures [and] quiet waters" (Ps 23:2) but knows he will encounter difficulties. The flock may even have to pass "through the valley of the shadow of death" (Ps 23:4) before returning home. David likens these early experiences to his later life's journey under the guidance of his shepherd, the LORD (Ps 23:1). David describes the end of that journey at the end of this psalm, when he would be Home at Last, saying...

I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Ps 23:6b).

While much of life, especially with God as one's shepherd, should be enjoyable, there are periods when a person welcomes less activity, a quieter existence. For example, when a person is traveling, whether for business or pleasure, it is often a welcome change to return home. In fact, the longer a person is away, the more one may look forward to getting back to a more regular and less demanding schedule. This was probably true for David. He may have had his father's flocks out for extended periods, moving them from place to place in search of suitable pasture, while at the same time watching out for danger from wild animals or robbers. After some time away, he probably looked forward to returning home.

 

In my visits with the deceased at the VA, I would report to him what was happening at church, significant events in the lives of people he knew, what special services we had planned, when the choir would be singing a holiday program. He often said that he hoped he could be there, but first, he would have to get home. He looked forward to returning home and mentioned it often. Even as more time passed, and it looked less and less likely that he would be able go home, he held on to that hope in....

• The place of God's care

When David composed the words at the close of his psalm, "the house of the LORD" had not yet been built. There was only the temporary structure of the tabernacle, which did not have room to "dwell in." The permanent and much larger edifice, the temple, would not exist until his son Solomon erected it. What David had in mind as he wrote this final verse was probably God's house in heaven which, as Jesus told the disciples, has plenty of room (John 14:2a). Regardless of how long David spent away from his earthly home, he could look forward to a heavenly home, a home he would never have to leave, a home where he would be with the LORD "forever."

• The permanence of God's care

Although the deceased was not able to return to his earthly home, he knew, as David knew, that regardless of how long he spent away, he could look forward to a heavenly home, "the house of the LORD." The deceased also knew, like David, that his heavenly home would be a permanent one.

 

Despite his hope, the deceased was never able to go back home while he was here. But because of his hope, the deceased will always be home. He is there now, with the LORD "forever." He is Home at Last.

 

If the deceased could get a message to folks here, especially to his family, it would surely be to confirm the value and veracity of what David wrote in Ps 23, that there is great advantage to having the LORD as one's shepherd, not the least of which is assurance about what awaits you at the end of life's journey: to "dwell in the house of the LORD forever." It is what David knew and what the deceased knows. It is the satisfaction, the contentment, the joy of being Home at Last.

For a pdf see here.