Suicide is an Unnecessary Death
Introduction
Before I start this article, if you or someone you
know is contemplating suicide or self-harm, please call this number immediately
1-800-273-8255. There are a lot of troubled people
in the world today who think their life is worthless. God shows the importance
of life in Isaiah 42:5, Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, Who gives breath to
the people on it, And spirit to those who walk on it.
In Jeremiah 1:4-5 it is written, Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I
sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." If God knows us and created
us, then there is a reason for us to live.
Definitions
of Suicide
The definition of suicide, according to Webster’s
Dictionary is, the intentional taking
of one’s own life. Although the word isn’t used in the bible, the concept is not foreign to
them. Here is a statement from the Int’l. Standard Bible Encyclopedia listed
under crimes:
Suicide
No
special law is found against this crime, for it is included in the prohibition
against killing. Contrary to the practice and the philosophy of paganism, the
act was held in deep abhorrence by the Hebrews because of the high value placed
on human life. It was held inexcusable that any but the most degraded and
satanic should lay hands on their own lives. Only the remorse of the damned
could drive one to it, as witness Saul (1 Sam. 31:4) and Judas (Mt. 27:5).
Suicide
isn’t Painless
There are variety of reasons
people intentionally take their own life. Some of those include: Bullying at
school or by peers, stress and tension on the job, anxiety of the family unit,
and illnesses that are terminal. Sometimes it might simply be depression and a
person might say, “I just want to die”; they see death as the fix-all solution
to their problems.
When a person does commit
suicide, they leave a series of problems behind. Not their problems, but
problems of other people that are now created by that person’s absence. Paul
wrote in Romans 14:7, For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.
Death, in whatever form it happens, has a ripple effect. The pain is not
resolved; just shifted to others to carry with them for years to come.
Everyone is affected by
someone’s death: Family, Friends, Loved ones, Classmates, Co-workers,
Congregations, etc. Even the death of a beloved celebrity has an impact on
society. Suicides are that much more intense for those left behind as it comes
unexpectedly and sometimes the signs are not clearly seen.
Suicide in the Bible
I’ll share two examples of
suicides as discussed in scripture. First, in the Old Testament, there was King
Saul. Chosen by God to serve as King (1 Sam. 9:17) of His people, his reign was
turbulent. In the end, Saul took his own life (1 Sam. 31:1-4) and his death has
such an impact that his armorbearer took his own life as well (vs. 5).
In the New Testament we
learn of Judas Iscariot. He was one of the 12 disciples of Christ (Lk.
6:13-16), He sought money to betray Jesus (Mt. 26:14-16), betrayed him with a
kiss (Mt. 26:48-50), was remorseful of his deed (Mt. 27:3), then committed
suicide by hanging himself (Mt. 27:5; Acts 1:16-18). Though he betrayed Jesus,
he could have fully repented of this sin and be accepted by God into his
kingdom. But instead, he was so full of guilt that he chose the “easy way out”.
What About Samson?
There has been mention,
amongst religious people, that Samson is an example of someone who committed
suicide yet approved by God; even named among the Heroes of Faith in Heb. 11
(vs. 32). But did he really commit suicide?
As we stated earlier, the
definition of suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life. This has a
selfish act to it as no one else involved in it. At the end of Samson’s life
(Judges 16), we see him devoid of his strength because God had left him (vs.
20). He was taken by God’s enemies, The Philistines, and served as a token of
their victory (vs. 23-24). As his hair grew back; his status as a Nazarite
resumed (Judges 13:5; Num. 6:2,5). With a penitent heart he prayed to God in
verses 28-30, “O Lord GOD, remember me, I
pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow
take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes!” And Samson took hold of the
two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against
them, one on his right and the other on his left. Then Samson said, “Let me die
with the Philistines!” And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on
the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his
death were more than he had killed in his life.
As we see here, his death
was not selfish; in that he wanted to take his own life. Rather, his focus was
on destroying the enemies of God’s people. The fact that he said, “Let me die
with the Philistines” is more of a sacrifice for the interruption of his
Nazarite vow than that of suicide.
Suicide Is Murder!
Conclusion
Once again, if you or anyone you know is contemplating
suicide, contact this number immediately 1-800-273-8255. God knows that your life is precious as He believes
all life to be precious. Seek help for your troubles and realize that death is
not the answer.
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