The Mortal Soul in Psalms
”For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the grave who will give You thanks?“ Psalm 6:5 NKJV
I have seen Christian music videos illustrating someone dying and immediately going to heaven and singing in the heavenly choir. But David in the Psalms is quite clear, along with the rest of Scripture, that the dead know nothing and rest in their graves until Jesus comes.
”You hide Your face, they are troubled; You take away their breath, they die and return to their dust.“ Psalm 104:29 NKJV
”The dead do not praise the Lord, Nor any who go down into silence.“ Psalm 115:17 NKJV
Furthermore New Testament Scripture resonates David’s theology about resting in the grave instead of going straight to heaven when we die.
”Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand,“ Acts 2:29, 34 NKJV
Scripture is very consistent from beginning to end that the dead know nothing and rest in their graves until Christ returns. David, Jesus, Peter and Paul never once say anyone dies and goes straight to heaven. But you know who does? The lying serpent in Genesis 3:4, who claims we don’t really die.
Let’s believe the Word of God instead of the lying serpent. Some lies may be fun to believe, but they are never safe to believe. The serpent never tells a harmless lie. Every lie from the serpent is intended for deception and destruction. Yet no one who believes in the Word of God will be deceived. God‘s Word which is truth will keep us safe.