Yes — infants who die are secure in God's presence and will be seen again.
David's words over the child he lost with Bathsheba — 'I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me' — express his own hope of rejoining that child. Les Feldick draws on this passage to show that even Old Testament saints understood resurrection, and he describes infants who die in infancy as 'God's harvest.'
2 Samuel 12:23 — David says he will go to his deceased child, showing he expected to be reunited with the child in the afterlife.
After the death of the child born to Bathsheba, David ended his mourning and said, 'But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me' (2 Samuel 12:23). David did not speak of the child as forever lost; he spoke of personally going to the child. In 2 Samuel 7:12 God promised David, 'And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.' The phrase 'thou shalt sleep with thy fathers' indicates that David's death was not the end of his existence.
Les Feldick points to David's loss of the child from Bathsheba as evidence that Old Testament saints understood resurrection. He explains that David wept for seven days, but then realized he could not bring the child back — instead, David said he would go to the child. This is presented as a Scriptural basis for expecting to see a lost infant again. Les also teaches that 'infants who die down there in infancy, in that age of absolute innocency, they're God's harvest.' He uses the multitudes of infants who die to show that God gathers them into eternity. Les further explains that even though Old Testament passages like this are not the church's doctrine of salvation, they still provide foundations, examples, and encouragement for believers.
Les Feldick says 'yes.' He points to David's words about the child who died: David realized he could not bring the child back, but he would go to the child (2 Samuel 12:23). Les also teaches that infants who die 'in that age of absolute innocency' are 'God's harvest.' This is offered as assurance that the child is safe and will be seen again.
Les Feldick teaches that although the Gospels and Old Testament writings are not the source of church doctrine, that does not mean we do not study them or make application. He uses the example of Jesus telling the twelve they are 'the light of the world' and 'the salt of the earth' — Israel rejected that role, but believers today can apply the same truth. In the same way, David's confidence concerning his child is presented as an applicable encouragement for grieving parents.
Les Feldick teaches that when a believer dies, 'his spirit soul takes flight to the presence of Christ in heaven' and waits there for the day of resurrection to be reunited with the resurrected body. He cites Paul's words that those who died in Jesus 'God will bring with him.' This supports the hope that a deceased child is in God's presence and will be part of the resurrection.
Applying Scripture Beyond Doctrine
Les teaches that even passages not containing church doctrine are still studied and applied — a principle that allows David's story to bring comfort to grieving parents.
What Shall We Do? Acts 2 & God's Foreknowledge Explained
David is not referring to himself, he is quoting Christ, had he been in those situations. And I'll show that to you here in just a moment. So he quotes the Psalms where David says, "...because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer, or permit thy holy one to seek corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
The Gifts & Calling of God Without Repentance — Romans 11:29 Explained
Now look what God is saying, verse, oh, let's see, verse 12, 2 Samuel 7, verse 12, See, God's not going to intervene in the physical element of death, He's going to die. And thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, in other words, it be His own Son. And God says, I will establish His kingdom.
David's Resurrection Hope
Les shows that when David lost the child from Bathsheba, he understood there was resurrection — David knew he could not bring the child back, but he would go to the child.
What Does Revelation 22 Really Mean? Eternity Explained
They're not going to be the tail, they're going to be the head. They're not going to be at the bottom of the totem pole, they're going to be at the top. And that's going to carry all the way into this Eternal. Now you've got 2 Samuel chapter 7. Now down to verse 12. 2 Samuel chapter 7, verse 12. I've got to give her time to find these, so everybody else as well. 2 Samuel chapter 7, verse 12.
Why Grace Always Wins Over Sin — Romans 5:15-20 Explained
She knew she was a believer, and I just sent back a few verses, and I got her answer today. What a comfort to know that our loved ones, if they were believers, are in His presence. They're already seated in the heavenlies. And so it's not that big a jump from here to there, and that's why we don't have to fear death, because they can kill the body, but they can't kill that which is already a citiz…
Immediate Presence With Christ
Les explains that at death the believer's spirit and soul goes immediately to Christ in heaven and waits for the resurrection of the body.
Infants as God's Harvest
Les states that millions of infants who die are 'God's harvest' — they are gathered into God's eternity.
2 Samuel 12:23: But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
David's statement after the death of his infant son expresses his personal expectation of going to be with the child.
2 Samuel 7:12: And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
God's promise to David uses language of resting with his fathers, showing death was not the end for David.
1 Thessalonians 4:14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Paul's teaching that believers who have died are brought by God with Christ — the basis for Les's statement that believers go to Christ's presence at death.
Les Feldick says yes. He points to David's words in 2 Samuel 12:23 — 'I shall go to him' — as evidence that David expected to be reunited with his child. Les also calls infants who die 'God's harvest,' indicating they are safe with God.
David meant he would one day go to the child who had died. Les Feldick says David understood resurrection — he could not bring the child back, but he would go to the child. This is a Scriptural foundation for expecting to see a lost child again.
Les Feldick teaches that Old Testament passages and the Gospels are not the source of church doctrine, but they can still be studied and applied. David's story is an example and encouragement, not the central doctrine of salvation for today.
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