How should I respond to someone else’s suicide? - Suicide - TouchPoints
1 Samuel 31:1-61Now the Philistines attacked Israel, and the men of Israel fled before them. Many were slaughtered on the slopes of Mount Gilboa.2 The Philistines closed in on Saul and his sons, and they killed three of his sons—Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malkishua.3 The fighting grew very fierce around Saul, and the Philistine archers caught up with him and wounded him severely.4 Saul groaned to his armor bearer, “Take your sword and kill me before these pagan Philistines come to run me through and taunt and torture me.” But his armor bearer was afraid and would not do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.5 When his armor bearer realized that Saul was dead, he fell on his own sword and died beside the king.6 So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.
2 Samuel 1:17-2017 Then David composed a funeral song for Saul and Jonathan,18 and he commanded that it be taught to the people of Judah. It is known as the Song of the Bow, and it is recorded in The Book of Jashar.19 Your pride and joy, O Israel, lies dead on the hills! Oh, how the mighty heroes have fallen!20 Don’t announce the news in Gath, don’t proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice and the pagans will laugh in triumph.
Matthew 27:3-93 When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.”5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself.6 The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”7 After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners.8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood.9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, “They took the thirty pieces of silver— the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel,
Acts 1:15-2615 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them.16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David.17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines.19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus—22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias.24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.”26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.
1 Corinthians 10:1212 If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.
The Bible records several suicides but does not single it out as a particularly heinous sin or categorize it for special treatment. It is a final sin, in that taking one’s own life leaves no time for repentance. David grieved equally for Jonathan who died in battle and for Saul who died by his own hand. Suicide is a solitary event, and we don’t know what God does in a person in the final moments of life. Mercy in grief is appropriate, if for no other reason than the memory of those times when we too have been tempted to end our lives.
