Isaiah 38:18-20 New Living Translation (NLT) For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. Only the living can praise you as I do today.
God's Word Forbids the Practice of Talking to the Dead
All throughout the Bible, we see clear warnings issued to God's people about consulting mediums and talking to the dead. Consider Leviticus 20:5-7, the Law of God opposed such practices and clearly warned the people to pursue holiness.
Psalms 30:9 New Century Version (NCV)
I said, “What good will it do if I die or if I go down to the grave? Dust cannot praise you; it cannot speak about your truth.
“The dead do not praise the Lord” (Psalm 115:17). Answer: God says that the dead know absolutely nothing! Though millions think it is possible, the dead cannot communicate with the living.
-Strength for Today- "And This Too Shall Pass" 2 Corinthians 4: 17-18.
Romans 8:38-39
"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
When the time is right, I, the Lord, will make it happen. Isaiah 60:22.
Isaiah 38:18 In-Context
18 For the dead cannot praise you; they cannot raise their voices in praise. Those who go down to the grave can no longer hope in your faithfulness. 19 Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.
When a person dies his soul goes to either heaven or hell. There is no second chance after death. The Bible tells us, "Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgment" (Hebrew 9:27, see also Luke 16:19-31). It would do no good to pray for someone who has died.
Revelation 7:9 describes what worship in heaven will look like “every nation, tribe, and tongue” worshipping God before His throne. Crying out “Salvation belongs to our God.” Emphasis on our God.
Psalm 30:5 King James Version (KJV)
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
there may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning | Psalm 30:5 | By Central Wesleyan Church | Facebook.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken."
A visit to a cemetery or memorial park can be a time of healing, reflection, catharsis, sharing memories, saying prayers, saying goodbye, or simply a ritual of remembrance. It can be a sad time, a reflective time, a sorrowful time, a painful time, a loving time, even a joyous time.
Possible meaning: Show respect to people who have died by not saying anything bad about them. Since dead people can no longer hurt us, or defend themselves, it is better to forget their bad actions and remember only their good ones.
Christians have been charged to serve God while on earth as there is no forgiveness in the grave.
Do Christians think praying can help a dead person get into heaven? Not exactly. All Christians believe that only God can determine whether a person belongs in heaven or in hell. Entreaties on behalf of the deceased can't sway God from what's right, but post-mortem praying does have other uses.
PRAYER IN THE PRESENCE OF DEATH
From the very presence of death we call upon You, for You are the giver of life; Your Son Jesus Christ is the source of eternal life. You know our hearts, Father, You see our grief. Only You can give us peace and comfort; only You can dry our tears; only You can soothe our pain.
Eternal rest grant unto him/her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him/her. May he/she rest in peace. Amen. May almighty God bless us with his peace and strength, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 King James Version (KJV)
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
Proverbs 30:16 New International Version (NIV)
the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, 'Enough! '
Note also the admonition of Leviticus 19:31 which states "" Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God"" (NIV). The Bible expressly forbids consulting mediums or souls of the dead and also forbids certain practices which were associated with the dead.
But the person who does the will of God will live forever. God's law, which tells us to love him and our neighbor, is his everlasting will. It carries forward into the next world. If we need motivation for keeping the law of God, there is no motivation greater than this.
When mankind had become corrupted in the period preceding the flood, God said: 'My spirit shall not abide in man for ever, for he is flesh; his days shall be a hundred and twenty years' (Gen. 6:3). Ancient interpreters, both Jews and Christians, did not agree about the interpretation of these words.
The world and its desires pass away, but WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF GOD LIVES FOREVER.” 1 John 2:15-17 The Holy Spirit saw it essential to caution us against the love of the world, the unreasonable desire of earthly things.