Mourning 30 Days: What the Bible says about this tradition

Where did the 30-day practice come from?

A local church announced that they were mourning their deceased pastor for 30 days. They posted about him on social media and celebrated him in services. At the end of the period, they announced a new pastor. Where did this practice come from, and what is the biblical purpose?

The Bible tells us in Deuteronomy 34:8 that after the death of Moses, the children of Israel mourned for 30 days. The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

Who instituted the 30 days of mourning?

This scripture does not indicate whether the Lord instituted this practice or if it came from Egypt, where they had been held captive. Because these words are in the Bible, some have used them to tell others they need to stop grieving a deceased loved one after 30 days.

Life goes on, and people must go back to work after death, but I don't know anyone who stopped loving or missing someone just because the clock strikes midnight on day 31.

There is no mention of how long Moses' wife and children, Joshua, or others grieved for him in their hearts. All that is known is that the children of Israel publicly mourned their leader for a specific number of days.

Biblical mourning was a community affair

No one knows precisely how Moses was mourned during that 4-week period of time but there are some clues. Scholars believe that the Israelites' 30 days of mourning was the public community-wide grieving where everyone within their camp was involved.

Keep in mind that at this point, the children of Israel were all living together in one place. They did not have to drive across town or from another state. Neither did they have jobs, they had to obtain leave from. They ate from the land and did not have to shop at grocery stores. This made it easier for everyone to participate than it would be today.

The Israelites carried out a month-long ritual, while today, burial traditions vary. Muslims and Jews bury their dead right away. Christians have church services that may take place within a few days or a few weeks of a death,

The Israelites tradition

The children of Israel's rituals could include any one or all of the following: Men shaving their heads, the wearing of sackcloth and ashes, professional mourners who sang, played music, cried, and wailed, the rending or tearing of clothing, and beating of breasts. And spending time at the home of the deceased.

This public showing of grief took place during the 30 days, and on day 31, everyone returned to their regular schedules. Moses' loved ones could have grieved for him in their hearts and daily lives for months or even years. We don't know because the Bible does not tell us.

No scripture says our hearts heal within 30 days of the death of a loved one, but some overzealous believers have misenterpreted this passage to indicate that all grieving stops after 30 days, which is not realistic. It is also insensitive to tell someone mourning a death that they need to get over it on day 31.

Grief may be a lifelong process

Mothers whose children precede them in death say they don't stop mourning, although they go on with life. Actress Betty White had a long and successful career, yet she continued to miss her husband, Allen Ludden, for 40 years after he died. She allegedly called out his name just before she passed away at 99.

There is nothing wrong with a specific 30-day mourning period. Keep in mind that for some, their grief does not end on day 31 and may become a lifelong process.