THE DEATH OF GOD'S SAINTS

PSALMS 116:1

A. "PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS"
  1. The text is one of the precious words in the Bible:
    1. One of the instances in which the Bible sheds light upon the darker facts of life
    2. Sorrow, temptation, disappointment, sin and as here, death are irradiate in the Bible
  2. Our text calls death here "precious":
    1. This seems, indeed, a strange epithet for death
    2. Paul speaks of death as "the last enemy" - I Cor. 15:26; but it is true, nevertheless as here used. Therefore note - B. THE IMPLICATIONS OF OUR TEXT
  3. The meaning of the word "precious"
    1. It means - costly - dear - such as "the costly pearl" - Matt. 13:46; a "costly stone" - I Kings 5:17
    2. It means "of great value" as indicated in Malachi 3:16-17
    3. That which holds the tenderest affection of life as in the relationship between Jonathan and David - I Sam. 18:1,3; 20:7
  4. The reason of the divine estimate - it is manifold:
    1. Because of his love and sympathy
    2. This love and sympathy was manifested on several occasions in the life of God manifested in the flesh - (i) at Bethany - at the tomb of his friend Lazarus - John 11:35; at Nain when he raised a widow's only son and gave him back to her - Luke 7:11-15
    3. The wondrous witness to others on behalf of God which the death of many a saint has born - we think of the stoning of Stephen - Acts 7:60; of the beheading of Paul - of the crucifixion of Peter and of the Martyrs of Christ during the dark ages - the blood of the saints has ever been the seed corn of the church
    4. The precious blood of Christ shed for the saints is justified and glorified; of Christ it is written, "Looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame" - Heb. 12:2 C. THE GREAT CONSOLATION AS REVEALED IN OUR OPENING TEXT
  5. The death of a saint involves God:
    1. It affects Him as man's Creator and his Redeemer
    2. He will in due time reclaim His child from death and the power of the grave; note very prayerfully this Divine forecast; "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from me" - Hosea 13:14
    3. Cried the prophet Isaiah, "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise" - Is. 26:19
  6. The power of death and the grave have been broken by the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord:
    1. Since then death is no longer a terror for the saints, but "sleeping in Jesus" - sweet repose - I Thes. 5:13-17; Rev. 14:13
    2. The knowledge of the second coming of Jesus and the first resurrection takes away the sting of death
    3. Said Job, in the darkest hour of his life, "I know that my redeemer liveth, and he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body yet in my flesh shall I see God" - Job 19:25-26
    4. Said the Psalmist, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness;" - Ps. 17:15
    5. And said Simeon, when holding the child Jesus in his arms, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation" - Luke 2:29-30
  7. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is death of his saints:"
    1. Their death affects Him because He loves them - John 3:16
    2. He too tasted the pain of death - Heb. 2:9
    3. He is not indifferent to their death, but He has vowed to redeem them from the power of the grave
    4. He will bring them again out of the land of the enemy to share the blessings of His kingdom and live forevermore - Rev. 21:4


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