“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” - Psalm 116:15
This is one of the many comforting and blessed statements in Holy Scripture concerning that great event from which the flesh so much shrinks. If the Lord’s people would more frequently make a prayerful and believing study of what the Word says upon their departure out of this world, death would lose much, if not all, of its terrors for them. But alas, instead of doing so, they let their imagination run riot, they give way to carnal fears, they walk by sight instead of by faith. Looking to the Holy Spirit for guidance, let us endeavor to dispel, by the light of Divine revelation, some of the gloom which unbelief casts around even the death of a Christian.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” These words intimate that a dying saint is an object of special notice unto the Lord, for mark the words “in the sight of. ” It is true that the eyes of the Lord are ever upon us, for He never slumbers nor sleeps. It is true that we may say at all times “Thou God seest me.” But it appears from Scripture that there are occasions when He notices and cares for us in a special manner. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). “When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee” (Isaiah 43:2).
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” This brings before us an aspect of death which is rarely considered by believers. It gives us what may be termed the Godward side of the subject. Only too often, we contemplate death, like most other things, from our side. The text tells us that from the viewpoint of Heaven the death of a saint is neither hideous nor horrible, tragic or terrible, but “precious.” This raises the question, Why is the death of His people precious in the sight of the Lord? What is there in the last great crisis which is so dear unto Him? Without attempting an exhaustive reply, let us suggest one or two possible answers.
While we are sorrowing over the removal of a saint, Christ is rejoicing. His prayer was “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory” (John 17:24), and in the entrance into Heaven of each one of His own people, He sees an answer to that prayer and is glad. He beholds in each one that is freed from “this body of death” another portion of the reward for His travail of soul, and He is satisfied with it.
Therefore the death of His saints is precious to the Lord, for it occasions Him ground for rejoicing. It is most interesting and instructive to trace out the fullness of the Hebrew word here translated “precious.” it is also rendered “excellent.” “How excellent is Thy loving kindness, O God!” (Ps. 36:7). “A man of understanding is of an excellent spirit” (Prov. 17:27). However worthily or unworthily he may live, the death of a saint is excellent in the sight of the Lord. The same Hebrew word is also rendered “honorable.” “Kings” daughters were among thy honorable women” (Ps. 45:9). So Ahasuerus asked of Haman, “What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor?” (Esther 6:6). Yes, the exchange of heaven for earth is truly honorable, and “This honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.”
This Hebrew word is also rendered “brightness.” “If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness” (Job 31:26). Dark and gloomy though death may be unto those whom the Christian leaves behind, it is brightness “in the sight of the Lord:” “at evening time it shall be light” (Zech. 14:7). Precious, excellent, honorable, brightness in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. May the Lord make this little meditation precious unto His saints.
From The Christian’s Comfort.