Death is symbolized in scripture by water spilled on the ground, 2 Samuel 14:14;—by sleep, John 10:11;-by cutting down the grass or the flower (difference of age or rank, but all leveled by the mower’s scythe) Psalms 90;5;6—by a desolating flood, Psalms 110:5;—by a shadow, Psalms 23:4;—by a valley, Psalms 23:4; Hosea 2:15;—by a tent taken clown, 2 Corinthians 5:1;—by a change of place, Philippians 1:23:—by passing over Jordan, Jeremiah 12:5.
To the believer death is but putting off rags for robes, falling asleep in the Father’s arms, exchanging a pilgrim’s tent for a prince’s palace, leaving school for home. It is remarkable that we have three instances in Scripture, in which the exact time of death was foretold; yet we find this solemn warning ineffectual to save the person warned: Hezekiah, fifteen years, Isaiah 38; yet see Chapter 39:5-7.
Hananiah, one year, Jeremiah 28:16, 17.
The rich fool, one day, Luke 12:20.
It is singular to observe the different colors different countries have adopted for mourning. In Europe, black is generally used as representing darkness. In China, white, because it is believed the dead are in a place of purity. In Egypt, yellow, representing the decay of leaves or flowers. In Ethiopia, brown, the color of the earth whence man was taken, and where he returns. In some parts of Turkey, blue, representing the sky, where they believe the dead are gone, but in other parts, purple, because being a mixture of black, and blue it represents sorrow on one side, and hope on the other.