Jimbo's Jots

Last week, I shared some of my thoughts about how moments of grief can also be moments of celebration. I want to continue that discussion somewhat.

How do you grieve? For those of us who have experienced grief, how do we grieve? We sometimes point to the Psalms of Lament to help process our grief. We also look to scriptures that will give a sense of hope.

There are three major stories in the Bible that we typically think of when we talk about grief. We look at the death of Lazarus (John 11), at the Crucifixion of Jesus and we look at the story of Job. In all of those stories, we see how people grief. Grief is usually sadness and anguish. We cry out like Mary and Martha did, “Lord, if you would have only . . . “

In a season of grief, one choral composer wrote the piece, Song of Triumph (written for the National Choral Symposium, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1984). Here is his story:

The Grotenhuis family had a son who was evidently very talented and well-loved. He died in a motorcycle accident at a fairly young age. The family was devastated, of course, and Dale, who has written many pieces of choral music, decided to work out his grief by writing a choral song. Rather than turning to a text of great lament, he chose the passage from Revelation 15: 3-4, which in its context is described as the song of Moses and of the Lamb.

“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
    Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
    and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.” (Revelation 15:3-4)

It is triumphant and honors God for His greatness. I think that’s pretty remarkable, but follows the example of Job who after losing everything he had said: “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” What a great testimony of the faith and trust in God’s hand in everything.

I pray for all who are grieving the death of a loved one. As mentioned last week, there is the tension of celebration and sorrow. May you find opportunities to praise God in those moments of grief.

Be blessed and be a blessing!

P. S. In the next few weeks, I’ll be able to share a recording of this song sung by The Choral Union of Rochester University (Rochester, MI)