Ecclesiastes is considered one of the books of wisdom literature in the Bible. An example of this is found when Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 7:2, “it is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone, the living should take this to heart.” 

If we’re not careful, we can shelter ourselves from death. Whether this is because you’ve struggled to grieve in the past or never know what to say to someone who is grieving, we can find ourselves ignoring the inevitable at all costs. And yet the house of mourning can be such a house of joy. 

I’ll never forget the funeral I went to for Howar Katz. He was a Pastor from London, I’ve never been to a bigger funeral - 1500 people packed into the megachurch. And the service was just story after story of how God used this man to point others to Jesus. It was difficult and celebratory at the same time. 

The great commentator Matthew Henry puts it like this, “the house of mourning is the wise man’s school, where he has learned many good lessons.” Mourning puts life into perspective, it reminds us our days are numbered, and our days belong to God.