They Being Dead Yet Speak

There is a telling statement made of Saul, the first king of Israel, in I Sam.15:12. After winning a battle against the Amelikites, Saul went to a hill designated Carmel and “set up a monument for himself.” We are not told when in the forty year reign of Saul this took place, but it speaks to his desire to be remembered. And clearly to his pride, as God through Samuel notes that he had been anointed king over Israel “when you were little in your own eyes” (I Sam.15:17). God rejected Saul as His king and while two primary acts of disobedience are underscored in the story of his rule, there is an undercurrent of ego that seems fairly clear through several brief observations such as this.

It is not surprising that we find a similar incident in the life of David’s son, Absalom, who rebelled against his father and tried to overthrow David’s throne. Recording Absalom’s death in II Sam.18, God tells us that Absalom “in his lifetime had taken and set up a pillar for himself in the King’s Valley. For he said, “I have no son to keep my name in remembrance.’” (v.18). Elsewhere we are told that he had three sons and a daughter (II Sam.14:27) so he must have erected this monument prior to the birth of his children. It seems quite arrogant for a young man to construct a shrine to himself out of fear that he might not be remembered. Surely such a disposition accounts in large part for his treason.

There is in some men an overwhelming desire to make a mark upon history. In reality, the vast majority of humankind will not be remembered beyond one or two generations after their death. In Ecc. 9:5, Solomon includes among those reasons for the vanity of life the fact that the dead will be forgotten. And while some rage against the dying of the light and do everything within their power to make their name monumental, few are successful in such. And, ironically, those that do often make a mark that is less than admirable. In fact there are numerous Biblical examples of men and women who are ageless in their infamy for selfish, wicked, or foolish decisions.

Nonetheless, God has chosen to memorialize some who were consumed, not with their own place in history, but with their relationship to Him. Heb.11 is a chapter devoted almost entirely to a remembrance of people whose lives were shaped by their faith in God. In v.4, Abel is noted for his “more excellent sacrifice” and God’s pronouncement of his righteousness. “And through it he being dead still speaks...” The remainder of the chapter records the deeds of people such as Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets, and untold “others” who stand as examples of faith for all generations that have succeeded them, and will succeed them. All of them, being dead yet speak.

In view of God’s memorializing of such men and women, it is our intention throughout the year of 2023 to give some attention to these people. Some of those that we will discuss are well-known Biblical heroes, while others are lesser known but just as exemplary in their service to God and to the Lord Jesus. We look forward to these studies and hope that they will be profitable to all who study with us.

They Being Dead Yet Speak… 

January — Noah 

February — Abraham 

March — Moses & Joshua 

April — Samuel 

May — Elijah & Elisha 

June — Esther

July — John the Baptist

August — Peter

September — Mary & Martha

October — Apollos 

November — Barnabas 

December — Timothy