The Bible is more than food for thought. “These words that I command you today shall be on your heart,” Deuteronomy 6:6, describes the emotional impact of the Bible should have on us. The next verse is indeed mental, “You shall teach them diligently to your children,” but the teaching is intended to go from head to heart.
For example, Psalm 94:19. “When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” When you turn your heavy heart to God’s Word, an emotional experience follows, burdens lightened by the effect of the Word.
So it is when death comes into your circle of family and friends. Church people turn to God’s promises in Jesus to hug their hurting hearts. Hear the epistle for All Saints’ Sunday. Feel the Father’s embrace. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).
Remember those words were read out loud to the early church, not read silently. A listener wouldn’t stop to think about every jot and tittle, the way we often do today. The words were felt, experienced, the Word of God “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). On All Saints’ Sunday and whenever death comes close, the Father’s love to us in Jesus embraces all who mourn and promises a heavenly future.
“Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely to preserve them pure and holy.”
(Lutheran Service Book, 725, 4)