9  Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. 10  The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. 11  The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. Ecclesiastes 12:9-11 (ESV)

O preacher, you have been called to teach your people knowledge even in the hour of death. The funeral is not a time for the sheep to be put in charge of themselves and be led by their sentiments. It is not a time for the preacher to lay aside his responsibilities for his flock. Do you ask the sheep to choose the liturgy, select hymns, read the Scriptures, and lead the prayers on Sunday? Are you not to supply them with words of delight and truth? The service is to be presided over by the shepherd for the sake of the sheep, not a musician or the family.

Why have we fallen into the horrendous notion that a grieving family, the sheep or in some cases unbelievers, and even wolves, should have anything to do with selecting the hymns for the funeral service? It is one thing to listen to their concerns, but they really are not called to care for themselves. Their loved one that you are burying was one of your sheep. Won’t you point out that this member of your flock should be brought to church? (To heck with the pandemic or anything else.) Won’t you process the body to the altar, then process the body to the hearse, then process the body to the graveside, then preside over the lowering of the casket into the earth? From beginning to end you are acting as the shepherd leading the body of one of his sheep to his final resting place to await the resurrection. Surely, the hymns should proclaim the reality of death and the resurrection of the body.

The funeral is no more a time for mealy-mouthed, emotion centered Methodist, Baptist or Evangelical hymns than any other time. Sing the hymns of Lutheranism that comfort and bring joy. Even the weakest of congregations will know “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” or the always reliable “A Mighty Fortress.” That would leave two other hymns to sing. What about “For All the Saints”? Far better would be “Behold a Host”, but that seems to be unknown by many congregations (teach them by having it part of your regular hymnody). There is “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” which may be a bone to give to those who always want Psalm 23. If your congregation doesn’t know “I Walk in Danger All the Way”, then they need to know it for funerals and to sing to those who are on their deathbeds. Even the old “Jesus, Lead Thou On” has some useful imagery and may be well known. Of course, the best may be “Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart.” Of course, some of these hymns have verses that may be like goads or nails  calling the hearers to repentance, but they also have to the powerful word proclaiming the work of the Good Shepherd.

Now, the best part of all these hymns (and this is not a complete list) is that they are not only teaching, but they are channeling the emotions of the moment in a way that strengthens the faithful. Yes, emotions are important for we were created with them. They, too, must be governed by the Word of God as appropriate hymns are sung in the hour of death and at the funeral. The uncatechized will say that Lutheran hymns are too negative and need to be more upbeat. They do not know what they are talking about. What is more upbeat than this?

Laugh to scorn the gloomy grave
    And at death no longer tremble;
He, the Lord, who came to save
    Will at last His own assemble.
They will go their Lord to meet,
Treading death beneath their feet.

            Lutheran Service Book 741:7