Topical Bible: The Death of Saints: Precious in God's Sight

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The concept of the death of saints being precious in the sight of God is rooted in the biblical understanding of the relationship between God and His faithful followers. This theme is encapsulated in Psalm 116:15, which states, "Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints" . This verse highlights the value and significance that God places on the lives and deaths of those who are devoted to Him.

Biblical Context and Interpretation

The term "saints" in the Bible generally refers to those who are set apart for God, often synonymous with believers or the faithful. The Hebrew word used in Psalm 116:15 is "chasid," which denotes those who are pious or godly. The death of such individuals is considered "precious" because it marks the culmination of a life lived in faithfulness to God. It is not merely the end of physical life but a transition into eternal communion with the Creator.

The preciousness of the death of saints can be understood in several ways:

1. Fulfillment of God's Promises: The death of a saint is a fulfillment of God's promises of eternal life and rest. In John 11:25-26, Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" . This assurance of eternal life underscores the preciousness of a believer's death.

2. Completion of Earthly Mission: The death of a saint signifies the completion of their earthly mission. Paul, in 2 Timothy 4:7-8, reflects on his life, saying, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness" . The end of a saint's earthly journey is a moment of victory and reward.

3. Transition to Eternal Glory: For the saints, death is a passage to eternal glory. In Philippians 1:21, Paul expresses, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" . The gain he refers to is the eternal presence with Christ, which is far better than earthly existence.

4. Witness to God's Faithfulness: The death of saints serves as a testimony to God's faithfulness and the hope of resurrection. Hebrews 11, often referred to as the "Faith Chapter," recounts the lives and deaths of many faithful individuals, emphasizing their hope in God's promises.

Theological Implications

The preciousness of the death of saints reflects God's intimate involvement in the lives of His people. It assures believers that their lives and deaths are significant to God and that He is present with them in their final moments. This understanding provides comfort and hope to the faithful, knowing that their ultimate destiny is secure in God's hands.

Furthermore, the death of saints is a reminder of the transient nature of earthly life and the eternal perspective that believers are called to maintain. It encourages the living to persevere in faith, looking forward to the eternal reward that awaits them.

Practical Considerations

For the Christian community, the death of a saint is both a time of mourning and celebration. Mourning is natural due to the loss of fellowship, but there is also a celebration of the life lived in faith and the hope of reunion in eternity. Funerals and memorial services often reflect this duality, focusing on the hope of resurrection and the joy of eternal life with God.

In pastoral care, the concept of the death of saints being precious in God's sight provides a framework for comforting the bereaved. It reassures them of God's love and the eternal security of their loved ones who have died in faith.

In summary, the death of saints is a profound event that holds deep significance in the Christian faith. It is a moment marked by God's presence, the fulfillment of His promises, and the hope of eternal life, making it truly precious in His sight.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Precious Deaths
... ocean, or falling beneath the assassin's knife, precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints. They are everywhere in the sight of God when they ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/precious deaths.htm

The Death of the Righteous
... [4] Believers at death shall gain ... hands.2 1 Corinthians 5:5: Here the saints are
straitened ... bespangled with light, and enriched with pearls and precious stones ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/1 the death of the.htm

Concerning the Honour Due to the Saints and their Remains.
... shall to the end [2476] , and Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of
His saints [2477] . What then, is more precious than to be in the hand of God? ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter xv concerning the honour due.htm

Out of the Deep of Death.
... All Saints-Day Sermons ... suffer me in my last hour, for any pains of death, to fall ...
left us their books, their sayings, their writings, as precious health-giving ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/out of the deep/vi out of the deep.htm

A Believer's Privilege at Death
... Lapidaries say there is no precious stone but has virtutem insitam, some ... lineaments
of that state of glory at which saints shall arrive after death. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 a believers privilege at.htm

Sweet Comfort for Feeble Saints
... midnight, I see the black form of death staring at ... the feeble saints cost Christ
as much suffering as ... been purchased with less than Jesus' precious blood; and ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/sweet comfort for feeble saints.htm

Consolations against the Fear of Death.
... "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." These pains are ... There
is nothing after death that thou needest fear; not thy sins, because ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/consolations against the fear of.htm

"Nunc Dimittis"
... 116:15: "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." It is no
ordinary thing for a saint to die; it is a spectacle which the eyes of God are ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/nunc dimittis.htm

The General Service to one Hierarch.
... The Verse: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. O hierarch
(mentioned by name), thou hast received from God a great power, thou hast ...
/.../anonymous/the general menaion/chapter x the general service.htm

Twenty Sixth Sunday after Trinity God's Judgment when Christ ...
... come to be glorified in his saints, and to ... all manner of wretchedness, misfortune,
distress and death. ... Christians, regard your sufferings as dear and precious. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/twenty sixth sunday after trinity.htm