Sermon Outlines

By Frederick F. Schwindt, Evangelist

"PRECIOUS IS THE DEATH OF THE SAINTS"

1. Meaning of the word "precious":
   1. Luther's translation in the German Bible renders this word "wert gehalten".
   2. The Hebrew word for precious is "yakar" and means "costly", as precious stones - 1 Ki. 10:2; 10, 11; "dear", "beloved", as relatives and friends - Ps. 45:9; honoured, respected - Eccl. 10:1; rare - 1 Sam. 3:1
2. The idea here is that the death of the saints is of value to the Lord:
   1. This was true when Paul became an oblation for the Lord Jesus Christ - 2 Tim. 4:6-8
   2. The same was true of the death of Stephen - Acts 7:59, 60

1. The particular thought of the Psalmist seems to be:
   1. That the Lord saved him from death because the life of David was of great value to the Lord - Acts 13:22
   2. The story of David's flight before Saul shows very eloquently the special care of the Lord for the life of David.
   3. The death of his servant David must have been of such gravity to the Lord; that his death meant much to Him and to Israel.
2. Still, there is a general truth implied here, to wit:
   1. That the act of removing a good man from the world is, so to speak, an act of deep deliberation on the part of God.
   2. That good, and at times great, ends are to be accomplished by it.
      1. We think of the death of the martyrs which became the ground swell of the gospel of Christ.
      2. The death of Polycarp, and of Latimer, and of Ridley, and Huss, and Jerome of Prague, are shining examples, promoters of the cause of truth.
   3. The death of the saints is evidence of their love and attachment to the Lord and His cause.

1. They are precious to the Lord because they are costly:
   1. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" - John 3:16
   2. "Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." - 1 Cor. 6:20
   3. "Feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood" - Acts 20:28
2. They are dear to the Lord because He has partaken of the same flesh and blood that the children have: Heb. 2:14- 16
   1. "And the word was made flesh" - John 1:14
   2. "For verily he took not on him the nature of the angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham." - Heb. 2:16
3. They are beautiful and splendid to Him because:
   1. They have been clothed with the garment of salvation - Isa. 61:10
   2. They are credited with Christ's own righteousness - 1 Cor. 1:30; Isa. 52:1-3
4. They are honored and highly respected because they now are the sons and daughters of God:
   1. "As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name" - John 1:12
   2. "Beloved now are we the sons of God" - 1 John 3:1
5. They are "the apple of his eye, because he hath set his love upon them": Deut. 32:10
   1. "Since thou was precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee" - Isa. 43:4
   2. "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." - Jer. 31:3
6. These glorious facts point out the great difference between sinners and saints:
   1. The death of sinners is the reward of wickedness.
   2. The death of the saints is precious in the sight of the Lord.