Topical Bible: Servants: when Good are Mourned Over After Death

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In the biblical narrative, the role of servants is often highlighted, not only in their service but also in the relationships they form with their masters and communities. The mourning over the death of good servants is a testament to their faithfulness, character, and the impact they had on those around them. This entry explores instances and principles related to the mourning of good servants in the Bible.

Biblical Examples:

1. Joseph's Mourning for Jacob's Servants:
While the Bible does not explicitly mention the mourning of Jacob's servants, the extensive mourning period for Jacob himself, as described in Genesis 50, implies a deep respect and affection for those who served him faithfully. Joseph's actions in honoring his father suggest a broader cultural and familial respect for those who served well.

2. David and His Servants:
King David's relationship with his servants is marked by mutual respect and loyalty. In 2 Samuel 1:11-12, David mourns the death of Saul and Jonathan, but his lamentation extends to the people of Israel, including those who served under Saul. This collective mourning indicates the value placed on faithful service and the communal loss felt when good servants pass away.

3. The Centurion's Servant:
In the New Testament, the account of the centurion's servant in Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10 highlights the deep care and concern a master can have for a valued servant. Although the servant does not die, the centurion's distress and Jesus' subsequent healing underscore the importance of the servant's role and the potential grief that would accompany their loss.

Principles of Mourning Good Servants:

1. Recognition of Faithfulness:
The Bible consistently emphasizes the virtue of faithfulness in service. Proverbs 27:18 states, "He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored." This principle suggests that faithful servants are worthy of honor and remembrance, even in death.

2. Communal Grief:
Mourning in the biblical context often involves the community. The death of a good servant is not only a personal loss to the master but also to the wider community that benefited from their service. This communal aspect of mourning is seen in the collective lamentations found throughout Scripture.

3. Eternal Reward:
From a biblical perspective, the mourning of good servants is tempered by the hope of eternal reward. Matthew 25:21 speaks to the commendation of faithful servants: "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your master." This assurance provides comfort to those who mourn, knowing that the servant's faithfulness is recognized by God.

4. Legacy of Service:
The legacy left by good servants is often a source of inspiration and reflection for those who remain. Their lives serve as examples of dedication and integrity, encouraging others to emulate their virtues. The mourning process can thus become a time of recommitment to the values and principles exemplified by the deceased.

In summary, the mourning of good servants in the Bible reflects a deep appreciation for their contributions and the relationships they fostered. Their faithfulness and service are honored both in life and in death, providing a model for Christian conduct and community life.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 35:8
But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel under an oak: and the name of it was called Allonbachuth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Death of Two Brave Warriors
... She set it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. ... land of the Philistines to
bring the good news to ... and brought them to Jabesh and mourned over them there ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the death of two brave.htm

In Death and after Death
... language, "O Lord, all these are Thy servants"; for "whither a ... this duty, or else
in reference to the good effects of ... The loss of slaves was not to be mourned. ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 10 in death and.htm

Meditations of the Blessed State of the Regenerate Man after Death ...
... resurrection; when the number of her fellow-servants and brethren ... 4.) Then every
true Mordecai (who mourned under the ... and mercy to the faith and good works of ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/3 meditations of the blessed.htm

John vii. 25-27
... they committed the matter to servants, simply satisfying ... cease dispensing what is
for your good, saying and ... Luke saith that the women mourned over Him, and it ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily l john vii 25-27.htm

The Sunday-School Teacher --A Steward
... in the word "stewardship." We are servants highly honored ... for thy children, for thy
Master's good, that thou ... work in the day, and they mourned over those years ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the sunday-school teachera steward.htm

Jer. 6:16 the Good Way.
... I believe there were always a few who mourned secretly over ... "Who will show us any
good?" is the ... to be found among masters as well as among servants, among rich ...
/.../ryle/the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter v jer 6 16 the.htm

The History of David
... wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned and wailed ... or else I swear to thee
by the good lord that there shall not one of thy servants abide with ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/the history of david.htm

The Twelve and the Seventy.
... But though Jesus often mourned over the obduracy of His ... they could afford to pay
"hired servants" to assist ... with a district from which nothing good or great ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the twelve and.htm

Demonstration xxi. --Of Persecution.
... David repaid good to Saul his enemy; and Jesus ... Elijah destroyed the servants of Baal;
and Jesus trampled ... For Josiah the daughters of Israel mourned and wailed ...
/.../aphrahat/aphrahat select demonstrations/demonstration xxi of persecution.htm

Psalm XXXVIII.
... groaning of my heart." [980] You observe the servants of God ... if thine heart is full
of its Good, even thy ... time when he ought to have been mourned over; then he ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xxxviii.htm