Thanks for joining me for today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

Our reading titled Shabna's Grave was written by Tim Gustafson.

Irish poet W.B. Yates wanted to be buried under Ben Bulbin,

a stately flat-topped mountain after which he titled one of his

last poems. The poem's final line is etched onto his gravestone. Cast a cold eye on life, on death,

horsemen pass by. Much speculation has taken place over what this means. Perhaps it's the poet's

acknowledgment of the reality of both life and death.

Regardless, Yates got his wish about where he was buried and what his gravestone would say.

But the cold truth is that life goes on without us, indifferent to our departure.

During a dire time in Judah's history, Shebna, a palace administrator,

made a tomb for himself to ensure his legacy after death. But God, through his prophet Isaiah,

told him in Isaiah chapter 22, who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here,

hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your

resting place in the rock. The prophet told him, God will roll you up tightly like a ball and

throw you into a large country. There you will die. Shebna had missed the point. What matters

isn't where we're buried. What matters is who we serve. Those who serve

Jesus have this immeasurable comfort. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, says Revelation 1413.

We serve a God who's never indifferent to our departure. He anticipates our arrival and welcomes us home.

The scripture reading for today from Our Daily Bread is Isaiah chapter 22 verses 15 through 24.

This is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty says.

Go say to this steward, to Shebna, the palace administrator,

what are you doing here, and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here,

...