| Isaiah 35: The Burial of Sharon Gaal - 7/15/25
You may not know it, but Sharon is a Biblical name. It appears in the Bible as “The rose of Sharon.” The exact type of flower is debated: some say it’s a crocus, others say a lily, others say a tulip. It’s a rare, beautiful flower that grows in unexpected places.
Sharon Gaal fits that description. She is a beautiful person who was a delight even when life was barren and gloomy. I only knew Sharon for the last eight years, but I could see that God had given her bright colors. I told the congregation on Sunday that she died, and they were taken aback. People came up to me and shared Sharon stories. Terry and Marilyn Young remembered her singing voice. She used to sing on special occasions at church, and it lifted the whole sanctuary. They also recalled that she sang at Terry's father’s birthday party. Sharon told me how when she was young, she supplemented her teaching income with singing telegrams.
The Song of Solomon is a Love poem between a man and his wife. The man says, “2 As a lily among brambles, so is my love among the young women.” I can imagine a young Frank wooing Sharon with words like these. But Solomon’s poem is also about God’s love towards us. The closest we get to understanding His deep love for us is the love between a husband and a wife. Sharon was first and foremost God’s flower. He created her, loved her, redeemed her and gave her all of His gifts.
Psalm 148 says the creation praises the Lord which includes stars, planets, hills, trees and flowers. They praise their creator by doing what their creator ordained. Sharon praised God by being Sharon. She brought light, fragrance and color to all of those around her.
Sharon had a great sense of humor. She even could joke about her body failing. She didn’t want to dwell on her health. She wanted to know how I was doing, how her church was doing, how her church was doing. I’ll never forget her laugh.
Jesus used flowers to talk about trusting in the Lord saying, “And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious,” Sharon trusted in Jesus and His provision.
The Bible also uses the image of a flower to talk about death. Psalm 103 says, As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; 16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. 17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, 18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. 19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
We all have a season on this earth but God is forever. He promised Sharon that she will be resurrected one day. The Rose of Sharon will rise because of Jesus. Isaiah describes what the new heaven and earth will be like, “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus (A Rose of Sharon); 2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; 6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; 7 the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[a] 9 No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. Today we bury the flower, but someday Sharon will bloom again. | 
