Scripture Selection for a Farmer's Funeral Service
Selecting Scripture for a Farmer's Funeral Service
The selection of Scripture for a farmer's funeral service is a task that involves considering the deceased's occupation and the themes that are relevant to their life and death. This is a contested area, as different Christian traditions have varying views on the most appropriate scriptures to read at a funeral.
The disagreement centers on the interpretation of biblical passages related to farming, death, and the afterlife. Some traditions focus on the literal meaning of agricultural imagery, while others interpret it allegorically or spiritually.
One position, represented by the Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, emphasizes the importance of sacrifices and offerings in the Old Testament as a way of understanding the significance of a farmer's life. For example, Matthew Henry's commentary on Leviticus 1:10 highlights the fact that God considers the poor and accepts offerings from those who can afford to give less [3]. This perspective might lead to the selection of scriptures such as Leviticus 1:10 or Exodus 20:24, which describe the sacrificial system and God's provision for his people [1].
In contrast, the Protestant academic tradition tends to focus on the allegorical or spiritual meaning of agricultural imagery in the New Testament. For instance, the Tyndale House commentary on Mark 4:14 interprets the parable of the sower as representing the preaching of God's word, with the farmer symbolizing a preacher [2]. This perspective might lead to the selection of scriptures such as Mark 4:14-20 or Jeremiah 9:17, which describe the importance of hearing and responding to God's word [7].
The Reformed tradition, as represented by John Calvin's Institutes, also emphasizes the spiritual significance of agricultural imagery. Calvin notes that sacraments are not just external signs, but are meant to assure us of our faith and represent spiritual realities [4]. This perspective might lead to the selection of scriptures that highlight the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds.
The Jewish tradition, as represented by the Babylonian Talmud, offers a different perspective on the significance of agricultural imagery. The Talmud interprets Deuteronomy 16:2 as referring to the Passover offering, which is seen as a way of understanding the relationship between God and his people [6]. This perspective might lead to the selection of scriptures that highlight the importance of community and worship.
Despite these differences, all positions agree on the importance of selecting scriptures that are relevant to the deceased's life and that offer comfort and hope to those who are mourning. The Anglican tradition, as represented by the Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion, provides guidance on the selection of scripture readings for funeral services, suggesting passages that emphasize the hope of resurrection and eternal life [5].
The hermeneutical commitment to understanding the biblical text in its historical and cultural context drives the differences in interpretation between traditions. For example, the Reformed tradition's emphasis on the spiritual significance of agricultural imagery is rooted in its understanding of the sacramental system and the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds [4]. In contrast, the Jewish tradition's focus on the literal meaning of the text is rooted in its commitment to understanding the Torah in its historical and cultural context [6].
Sources
- Exodus “You shall make an altar of earth for me, and shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I record my name I will come to you and I will bless you. -- Exodus 20:24”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 4:14: 4:14-20 The interpretation of the parable of the four soils is allegorical. The farmer represents a preacher of God’s word (4:14). The four types of soil that receive the seed represent different responses to the preaching of the word. The point of this parable and its interpretation is that hearers should be good soil and heed God’s word (4:9). Only those who produce fruit and endure to the end will be saved (13:13; 8:35; Rev 2:10-11).”
- Leviticus (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Leviticus 1:10: Here we have the laws concerning the burnt-offerings, which were of the flock or of the fowls. Those of the middle rank, that could not well afford to offer a bullock, would bring a sheep or a goat; and those that were not able to do that should be accepted of God if they brought a turtle-dove or a pigeon. For God, in his law and in his gospel, as well as in his providence, considers the poor. It is observable that those creatures were chosen for sacrifice which were most mild and gentle, harmless and inoffensive, to typify the innocence and meekness that were ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 101: us by God to assure us of our faith, they wander widely from the mark. If they mean merely a sign because it has been employed as a similitude, I will show how acutely they reason. Paul says, “One star differeth from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead” ( 1 Cor. 15:41, 42 ). Here is one sacrament. Christ says, “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard-seed” ( Mt. 13:31 ). Here is another sacrament. Again, “The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven” ( Mt. 13:33 ). Here is a third sacrament. Isa”
- Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), A Funeral Vigil: A Funeral Vigil After the Funeral An Outline Order for a Memorial Service An Outline Order for a Memorial Service within a Celebration of Holy Communion At Home after the Funeral At Home before the Funeral Before the Funeral Bible Readings and Psalms for Use at Funeral and Memorial Services Canticles for Use at Funeral and Memorial Services For those Unable to be Present at the Funeral Memorial Service: A Sample Service Ministry at the Time of Death Notes Notes to Ministry at the Time of Death Notes to the Funeral Service On t”
- Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 70b.6: Rav said: What is ben Dortai’s reason? As it is written: “And you shall slaughter the Paschal offering to the Lord your God from the flock and from the herd, in the place which the Lord shall choose to rest His name there” (Deuteronomy 16:2). A question must be asked: Does the Paschal offering come from the herd, i.e., from cattle? Doesn’t the Paschal offering come from only the sheep and from the goats, as commanded in the book of Exodus (12:5)? Rather, the verse should be understood as follows. “Flock”; this is referring to the Paschal offering. “Herd”; thi”
- Jeremiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Jeremiah 9:17: 9:17-26 This series of four short poems and a brief prose passage are messages from the Lord, presumably delivered to the people of Judah by Jeremiah. Three of the poems describe the effects of the Lord’s judgment on the people; the fourth poem is an exhortation. The prose section predicts doom on Judah and her neighboring nations. 9:17 The Lord commanded the people to organize the professional mourners; these individuals commonly performed at ancient Near Eastern funerals (see Amos 5:16; Mark 5:38).”