Bible Questions and Answers Concerning Man - Alonzo T. Jones
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Chapter 3<br />
Do the Dead Praise the Lord?<br />
Another question is, “Do the dead praise the<br />
Lord?” Nowadays it is held, as a matter of course,<br />
that if a person be righteous, or even professedly<br />
so, when he dies, he has gone to heaven, <strong>and</strong> has<br />
joined the angelic hosts in their holy songs of<br />
praise to the Creator of all. But in the Scriptures<br />
this question is asked, in connection with certain<br />
others, in a manner <strong>and</strong> in a tone which of<br />
themselves admit only of a negative answer.<br />
Says the Psalmist: "Wilt Thou show wonders to<br />
the dead? Shall the dead arise <strong>and</strong> praise Thee?<br />
Shall Thy loving-kindness be declared in the<br />
grave? Or Thy faithfulness in destruction? Shall<br />
Thy wonders be known in the dark? And Thy<br />
righteousness in the l<strong>and</strong> of forgetfulness?" (Ps.<br />
88:10-12). Here the grave, the place of the dead, is<br />
called "the l<strong>and</strong> of forgetfulness." This is strictly in<br />
accord with that which we read under our last<br />
question, that "the dead know not anything, neither<br />
17