What Does It Mean to Give the Dead Proper Burial? (2)

WE ENDED Part One by emphasising that a person is given a decent or proper burial if his remains or body was properly covered or wrapped in a fine material, for example, fine linen shroud or put in a casket and was laid in a tomb.

So, we can say that Christ Jesus received a proper, decent or honourable burial (Matthew 27: 50, 57-60). David also received a proper burial (Acts 2:29).

However, a person might be said to have received no burial or improper burial if his body could not be properly covered or wrapped in a fine material, for example, fine linen shroud or put in a casket and could not be laid in a tomb.

Very often, such a person would have his body thrown to the fields to be food for animals. Let us consider the passages of Scripture below.

“Therefore thus says the Lord in regard to Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, “They will not lament for him: ‘Alas, my brother!’ or, ‘Alas, sister!’ They will not lament for him: ‘Alas for the master!’ or, ‘Alas for his splendor!’ “He will be buried with a donkey’s burial, dragged off and thrown out beyond the gates of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 22:18-19).

“They will die of deadly diseases, they will not be lamented or buried; they will be as dung on the surface of the ground and come to an end by sword and famine, and their carcasses will become food for the birds of the sky and for the beasts of the earth” (Jeremiah 16:4).

Now, the Word of God makes it clear what proper burial is, and what improper or no burial for the dead is. Solomon said, “…if he (a person) cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive PROPER BURIAL, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he” (Ecclesiastes 6: 3, NIV).

The expression “does not receive proper burial” may be rendered as “if he receives no burial.”

There is no doubt that there are people, who in very strange circumstances, may unintentionally be denied proper burial or receive no burial.

For example, people who are killed and eaten by beasts or those who drown in water bodies or burn to ashes and so on. So, we can say that the small boys who were cursed by the prophet Elisha resulting in bears devouring them for jeering at him received no burial.

A person who suffers such a fate is what Solomon describes as being worthless than a stillborn child. But if the body of a dead person is covered with decent material and laid to rest in a tomb, then, he or she can be said to have received proper, decent or befitting burial.

Clearly, proper burial is different from expensive funeral. We should make it clear that the Bible does not talk about expensive funeral but proper burial. And expensive funeral is not proper burial.

Proper burial is not celebrating the dead as most Ghanaians do it where assorted foods and drinks are served. What is the wisdom in spending huge amount of money to celebrate the dead? How do such celebrations benefit the dead? The dead cannot enjoy any of the foods and drinks served or hear any of the tributes paid; only the living enjoy and hear. Is it not better and wise to celebrate a person who has lived well while he or she is alive?

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James Quansah is the Executive Director of Christ-Conscious Leadership Centre (CLC) and lead Pastor of End-Time Christ’s Commissioners (ECC), Kumasi, Ghana. James is also a journalist by profession. He is married with four children.