The Preciousness of the Saints in Life and in Death
W. M. Bunting. Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. I. THE LORD HAS HIS SAINTS — HIS HOLY ONES. This imports — 1. Appropriation. They are "His" saints — saints through Him and in Him, saints of His making and modelling and establishing. 2. Devotedness. They are holy unto the Lord, sanctified or set apart to His service, self-surrendered to the adorable Redeemer. 3. Resemblance. Such characters are emphatically Godlike, holy and pure; children of their Father which is in heaven; certifying to all around their filial relationship to Him, by their manifest participation of His nature, by their reflection of His image and likeness. 4. Endearment. II. THEY ENJOY NO IMMUNITY FROM BODILY DEATH. Waiving whatever is occasional, arising out of circumstances peculiar to individuals, it is easy to see that, though this is so painful for the time being to God's dear children, it is well adapted to promote such important ends as these; — the trial and improvement of their present grace, — the consequent heightening of their happiness in the future state , — the arresting of the sinner's attention, — the encouragement of many feeble and wavering believers through their dying testimony, — the illustration, in a stronger light, of the awful evil of sin, — the demonstration, too, of the spiritual and superior nature of Christian joy, and its absolute independency on artificial circumstances, and its true character, the joy of the Holy Ghost, — and the complete, eventual display, in the sight of heaven, and earth, and hell, of the conquest of Christ, and of His religion, over suffering, and death, and hell. III. YET, EVEN IN DEATH THEY ARE THE CONTINUED OBJECTS OF GOD'S COMPLACENT REGARD. 1. He watches over, and sets a high value upon the holy and useful lives of His people, and will not lightly allow those lives to be abbreviated or destroyed. 2. He exercises control over the circumstances of their death. 3. When they are dying, He looks upon them and is merciful unto them. 4. He attaches great importance to their deathbed itself. The close of a Christian's career on earth, his defiance, in the strength of his Saviour, of his direst enemy, the good confession which he acknowledges when he is enabled to witness before those around his dying bed, all these are precious and important in the sight of the Lord, and ought to be so in our view, and redound, not only to his own advantage, but to the benefit of survivors, "to the praise and glory of His grace." 5. He evinces his estimation of their character, and of their circumstances, by providing for their recovery from the grave, and their enjoyment of a glorious immortality. (W. M. Bunting.) 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.