Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. I. CONSIDER WHY GOD CLAIMS SAINTS AS HIS OWN. 1. He has set them apart for Himself, in His original purpose of redemption. 2. He has enstamped His moral image upon them. 3. They have freely and sincerely given themselves away to Him. II. SHOW THAT GOD TAKES PECULIAR CARE OF THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS. 1. He always takes care when His saints shall die. 2. He takes care that they shall die, not only at the best time, but under the best circumstances. 3. God takes care of His saints, when their pure and immortal spirits leave their clayey tabernacle, and take their course to the world of light. He knows that death is a great and solemn change, and He will not forsake them while passing through it. III. IMPROVEMENT. 1. If God treats His saints in such a manner as has been said, then we may learn the extent of His sovereignty towards all mankind. 2. In the view of this subject, we may see that real saints have a permanent source of comfort, to which all who disbelieve and reject the Gospel are entire strangers. 3. Since God claims all real Christians as His own, and always takes a gracious care of them, they ought to make their calling and election sure to themselves. They are absolutely secure in His view, and they ought to be absolutely secure in their own view. 4. If the death of saints be precious in the sight of the Lord, then it ought to be precious and desirable in their own sight. They ought to live in hope, and not in fear of death. 5. Since God claims saints as His own, and takes peculiar care of them both living and dying, it infinitely concerns sinners to become saints, and live a holy and devout life. 6. If God takes peculiar care of saints in life, and often gives them a peaceful death, then their death ought to be peculiarly regarded as very precious and instructive. 7. If God claims all real saints as His own, and takes peculiar care of their death, which is precious in His sight, then pious mourners have ground of support and consolation under the bereavement of their pious relatives and friends. (N. Emmons, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.WEB: Precious in the sight of Yahweh is the death of his saints. |
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