(This post received the third most views of 2013)
There is a sad story in the Old Testament about the death of King David’s infant son. When the baby became ill, David fasted, prayed and wept for six days. On the seventh day, David’s servants came with the anguished news, “He is dead.” David’s response is remarkable.
David replied, ‘I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, “Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.” But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me.’” – 2 Samuel 12:22- 23 (NLT)
This passage came to my mind last night upon hearing the shocking news of the death of baby Azaiah DeGarmo, the 2 month old son of my friends Dan and Serena DeGarmo. I read this morning the Doctors said, “His heart just stopped beating.”
While Norma Jean and I did not get to see little Azaiah, it was especially personal and painful to us since we were with the DeGarmo’s just a week before his birth. They graciously opened their home and extended their hospitality with Serena being nine months pregnant. Dan spoke with excitement of their coming child. His name would be Azaiah. “It’s a Hebrew name,” he explained, which means “my strength is Yahweh.”
Ironically, their son’s very name is that which will provide the greatest help, hope and comfort during these difficult days. But it raises the question, “How?” How does someone deal with the sudden death of a child with courage like King David did.
Let me offer a few short thoughts.
(1) Comfort comes through communion God. David experienced comfort through God’s presence. Psalm 9 may have been written during this painful period in David’s life. In it He speaks of God’s sanctuary during trying times.
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
A refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
David found comfort through prayer, meditation and fellowship with Jehovah. I know Dan and Serena. They are people of prayer. They will too.
2. Because David communed with God, he found peace to ease his pain. He wrote in Ps 4:8. “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
I’m sure it’s difficult for the non-believer to understand how peace can be experienced in times of turmoil, when your heart is breaking and you feel so weak and vulnerable. Yet it is so.
Paul speaks of the “peace which exceeds anything we can understand.” (Phil 4:7). God can provide peace in the most difficult circumstances. In the most trying times. In the most severe situations.
(3) Because David enjoyed fellowship with God he could see through the veil of tears a greater purpose in the child’s short life.
David penned, “I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. (PS 57:2, ESV)
God gives life. There is a time to be born. A time to die. We are not in control of either. But regardless of the length of life, it is sacred. Holy. And blessed by God. It has worth. Dignity. And purpose.
Just as I believe there was purpose in the short life of David’s son, I am just as convinced that God had a purpose for baby Azaiah. It his short stay, he gloried God. Through his parents and siblings, he will magnify his Maker.
(4) Because David experienced companionship with Jehovah, he could hold on to the hope of heaven.
We don’t know how much the ancients knew about eternity, but there is evidence they had some insight. David expressed it. “I cannot bring him back, but I can go to him!”
What confidence! What hope! What assurance! David knew that his child was now in a place of safety. Security. Solace. And David believed that he too would rejoin his baby boy on the other side.
Along with Dan and Serena, we share in that hope. We live in that assurance. We believe in that promise. The promise of a brighter day. A happier home. A better body.
To our good friends, Dan and Serena DeGarmo, who like David, are people “after God’s own heart,” we extend our deepest sympathy. And offer heart-felt empathy. But we rejoice in your faith. Your hope. And your love. May God bless you and your family, as only He can, in the days to come.
–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman
ThePreachersWord 
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Amen, Ken. Great thoughts.
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Thanks, Kipp
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Well-said; very comforting.
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thank you
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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that is so nice. Than ks.
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The God of all comfort gives us comfort that He can only give us through our most difficult trials – surely the loss of a child is one of the most difficult trials! Thank you for God’s comforting words that offers such assurance and hope through our communion with Him! May God comfort the Degarmo family through His Son and the great love with which He has loved us!
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Please send future posts to _terri_griggs11@yahoo.com_ (mailto:terri_griggs11@yahoo.com) as this email address will no longer be in service. Just in case you can’t see it there is an underscore between terri and griggs. Thank you. Terri Griggs
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It is sad to lose one so young, but the remarks you made are appropiate and comforting. We do not always understand why, but we have a God and His Son who gives us hope to replace despair 2.Cor.1:3-5
God bless, Tommy Thornhill
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Thanks Tommy for reading and your good comments
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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Great thoughts, brother Ken!
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May the Lord bless your words Ken. We are sad today. Very sad. In the middle of this storm, there is yet a Rock whose cleft I can climb into and find rest.
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Thanks Dan. I am getting a lot of positive response. There are many out there who are suffering right now or have suffered the death of their children. And I hope these words will provide some comfort for them as well. I know from personal experience when my brother died at 23 how broken my parents were. And so I feel your saddness. And we are praying for you. Kenny & April are here and they send their love. I know you have a lot of support around you right now. And a lot you are dealing with. But we will talk soon. May God bless and keep you. Ken
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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SO very sorry for the loss of the DeGarmo family has suffered, and what a testimony to God and His faithfulness!-“In the middle of this storm, there is yet a Rock whose cleft I can climb into and find rest.” The Anchor TRULY does hold, especially so in times when we are shattered by the sorrows this life in the shadowland holds…my prayers of comfort & peace to Azaiah’s family♥
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Very kind of you, Teresa, to share your concern for the family. I know they appreciate it.
Ken Weliever 400 NW Highcliffe Dr Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 Home Phone: 816-600-5001 Cell Phone: 813-507-1726 Church Office: 816-761-2659 preacherman@weliever.net web site: http://www.weliever.net/ blog: http://www.thepreachersword.com/ Church web site: http://hickmanchurch.com/
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My heart is truly saddened for the DeGarmo family. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray for you the peace that passes all understanding.
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Very comforting words in 2Samuel 12:22-23 in that 58 years ago today we lost our first-born child at birth due to the doctor’s fatal mistake of attempting to speed up the delivery by cutting the water bag around the baby and also cut the umbilical cord. Almost lost my wife too. Took us awhile to forgive that doctor. Ken Brady (Feb 12, 1956)
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Reblogged this on ThePreachersWord.
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