1 Corinthians 15:42-44
Funeral Service
The Perfect Body

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Our sermon today is based on the 23^rd Psalm.  I am certain that almost everyone here knows this Psalm by heart – recite it with me in the King James version:

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Dear Louise, Dale’s family and friends, and all my Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

This short Psalm was Dale’s favorite scripture.  As I considered various texts for our lessons this day, it was difficult.  The 23^rd Psalm is so beloved that saying anything more than what Dale already knew was going to be difficult.  Still, this was Dale’s favorite scripture, and it should be the one that is shared with you as we consider his death.

It may seem odd that a wheat farmer would hold a shepherd so dear.  Sheep had little to do with his life.  Yet, that image helped Dale.  It helped him to understand the Lord in a way that a suburbanite, like myself, may never comprehend.  The imagery completed a picture for him…let him understand what God would do.  Dale never expected the promises of this Psalm in this life.  He understood that the picture that the Psalmist David had painted was of a future life – yet it still pertained to this life.

This is not the first time that Dale has died.  It is not the first time that he has been buried.  In his Baptism on March 19, 1950 Dale also died and was buried – died with Christ and was buried with Him.  That death allowed Dale to approach this death, the death of his earthly body, with great calm.  He understood that this life was short, and he was prepared for it to end.  He knew that his earthly body was failing, and he was ready to be called home.  Dale was ready to rest – eternally – beside the still waters.

Through Baptism, the Lord continues to lead His people by the still waters, restoring all of our souls ... not just once, but thousands of times each day.  Each and every time we sin – those thousands of times each day when the temptations of the devil and our own earthly flesh win out – we can look back to our Baptism – our death and burial with Christ – and rejoice in the forgiveness found there. 

Those who, through their Baptism and faith, know His voice and follow Him are lead in “the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake” ... for His Name's sake.  Think about some of the names given to Him in scripture: Savior, Redeemer, the Bread of Life, the Living Water, the Door, Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Prince of Peace, Immanuel, God with us, the Son of David, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Suffering Servant, the Rock, the Alpha and the Omega, the Resurrection and the Life, the First and the Last, and the Good Shepherd.  Dale knew all these names, and the Savior who was called by them.  Because our Savior is all these names and more, “our cup runneth over and He leads [us] in the paths of righteousness for His Name's Sake.”

Through the faith that God has granted to us, we are empowered to believe and confess that Jesus is the Christ and that He is with us always to the very end of the age.  The psalmist declares that truth boldly, “For Thou art with me.”  What an assurance, not only on the good days, but especially when the day of one's death draws near.  When death casts its dark shadow, we need not be afraid.  We walk daily through the “valley of the shadow of death.”  But, through the faith in the strength of our Shepherd, we “fear no evil,” because we know that our Savior is the ultimate defense against all evil.

Dale firmly held to that faith.  With his faith he could look to the Son of God and respond by saying, “I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.” Faith and trust look at all that the Lord God has done, is doing, and will do and says in a confident, bold declaration, as Dale did so often: “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”  And we can be certain that through his faith, Dale “will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.”

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

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