QT 3 Dec 13, Honor ceremonies for the sake of others

1 Sam 31:1, 4, 6, 8, 11-12 (ESV) Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa. . . . 4 Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me." But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. . . . 6 Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together. . . . 8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. . . . 11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul, 12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there.

NOTE: The Philistines defeat Israel; the people flee the cities near the border; many are killed; Saul, Jonathan, and Saul's two other sons are killed as well. Finally, their bodies are publicly displayed (Saul headless) nailed to a wall in Beth-shan. Saul's first public act was to rescue the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead. Now, they show great honor and courage by recovering the bodies. This city was on the other side of the Jordan, and yet they are the ones who choose to risk their lives for the honor of Saul's name. Later David would also publicly honor them for their selfless act. It seems like such a small thing. After all, Saul and his sons were dead. What difference does an empty shell of a body make? But it was a sign of respect for Saul and for the office. One might disagree with the leader on numerous accounts, but the office is still honored.

So how do we apply this? As a believer in eternal life, it is easy to be jaded toward funerals or ceremonies, and yet these events have special meaning to those who attend. They are a time of great emotional distress, maybe even release. They are to be honored. A dead body might be a shell, but it still represents a person who lived, and a person who was loved by someone in life, and if not by anyone, then loved still by God (… for God so loved the world that he gave his only son …). Ceremonies are important to others and for that reason should be treated with dignity and respect.