Sep 1996 - Notes On Psalm 6 - Bible Studies 1964

by John Miller | Category: Voices From The Past | Sept 1996

David says that there is no memorial of God in death, and 'in Sheol who shall give Thee thanks?' It may be well to quote one or two scriptures in the connexion in which we are writing:

The dead praise not the LORD,

Neither any that go down into silence:

But we will bless the LORD (Psalm 115:17, 18).

For the grave (Hebrew Sheol) cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee:

They that go down into the pit cannot hope for Thy truth.

The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day:

The father to the children shall make known Thy truth.

The LORD is ready to save me:

Therefore we will sing my songs to stringed instruments

All the days of our life in the house of the LORD (Is. 38:18-20).

It may be contended that what David had before his mind, and Hezekiah also, was that at death there was a cessation of the praise and thanksgiving in the house of God of all persons. We know that to be true, but does it cover all that is said about Sheol in the passages under review? The question at once arises in the mind about the occupation of the righteous who went down to Sheol, to the place of Paradise therein.

Another passage in Isaiah seems to be helpful on the point:

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds (couches), each one that walketh in his uprightness (57:1,2).

John Miller | Sept 1996
Voices From The Past