Costly Deaths

Introduction

Read .

“Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” ()

“Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” (, NKJV)

The LORD considers my death precious. Similarly, he considers the blood of those He redeems precious when it is violently shed (). However, the psalmist struggles with the cords of death which bind him and the distress of the grave which finds him (). He implores the LORD to deliver him from it (). The LORD did deliver his soul from death (). The Lord is not willing that any should perish in death (). So, how is the death of His saints precious? How is blood of martyrs precious?

The LORD considers my death precious. Similarly, he considers the blood of those He redeems precious when it is violently shed (). However, the psalmist struggles with the cords of death which bind him and the distress of the grave which finds him (). He implores the LORD to deliver him from it (). The LORD did deliver his soul from death (). The Lord is not willing that any should perish in death (). So, how is the death of His saints precious? How is blood of martyrs precious?

The answer is found in a clear understanding of the word precious in . I've been reading through the Lexham English Bible this year. I've enjoyed it very much. It renders this verse: "Costly in Yahweh's view is the death of his faithful ones." This clarifies what the NKJV identifies as precious. The idea of the verse is that it costs the LORD dearly when His devout ones die. The LORD views death as an enemy just as we do. He does not take pleasure in our death. My death does not please God; however, the LORD places a high value on my death. It is costly.

How Valuable is My Life to the LORD?

Of course, another way to put this is, “How costly is my death to the Lord?

The LORD preserves my life.

He does so in two specific ways:

He preserves my life by watching over me.

"No weapon formed against you shall prosper" (). Often, it has been said that we are indestructible until God is done with us. This doesn't mean we should test the LORD by treating life contemptuously. However, we need not fear danger in whatever it is God calls us or our children to do. Jesus was kept safe by the Father until His hour had come upon Him. The Father will preserve your life by watching over you.

He preserves my life to accomplish His will.

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (). There are works for me to do. The Lord Jesus glorified the Father on earth and finish the work given to Him. Nobody had any power to end His life if the Father had not given that power to them. It pleased the Lord to allow Herod to end James' life in prison shortly after the ascension of Christ. However, it also pleased Him to allow John to live to a very old age on the island of Patmos. Paul was stoned and left for dead only to rise up and later have his head removed on the Appian Way. In every case, God has a job for us to accomplish. He preserves our lives by watching over us and enabling us to finish the work He called us to do. But if someone takes my life, I can be sure that...

The LORD avenges my death.

God allows His children to be abused by the world. He even allows some to suffer a martyr's death. But He also assures us that He will bring those who hurt and kill us into account one day. What is true of Israel is true of individual believers: "He who touches you touches the apple of His eye" (). The one who hurts and abuses us is poking the eye of God. I'd say that that was a pretty serious provocation!

We believe in the LORD Jesus. Those who hurt us or cause us to fall into sin would be better off with a great millstone hung around their neck to weight them down as they are thrown into the sea. Even those who "think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation (excessively sinful behavior), speaking evil of you. They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead" ().

Transition: The LORD will preserve my life, and He will avenge my death. Costly in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. Since all of this is true, how should we look at the death of believers close to us? Should we blithely say, "At least they are in a better place?" I mean we know that's true.

The LORD will preserve my life, and He will avenge my death. Costly in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. Since all of this is true, how should we look at the death of believers close to us? Should we blithely say, "At least they are in a better place?" I mean we know that's true. But if the LORD views our death as costly, shouldn't we view the death of those loved by the LORD as costly? When believers die, we ought to grieve and learn.

How Valuable are the Lives of Other Believers to Me?

If the LORD views our death as costly, shouldn't we view the death of those loved by the LORD as costly? When believers die, we ought to grieve and learn.

Grieve Over the Death of Saints.

The Bible tells us not to give into hopeless sorrow; however, it does tell us to sorrow. We owe a great deal to believers who have lived long faithful lives. It seems to me that the greatest gift they give us is their prayer to God for us. Imagine where people would be without intercessory prayer! Any faithful, praying believer who dies is a great loss for us. It is cause for grief to be sure. We might rejoice for him. He rests from his labors. He is indeed in a more blessed place. But his or her death causes grief and regret in us. It is costly.

Learn From the Death of Saints.

When a believer dies, we are mindful that we shall dies as well. And when we do die, will we be ready? We work while it is day. The night comes when no man shall work. When a believer dies, we ought to remember both the positive and negative examples left behind. We ought to learn from both. They have the promises of God in glory. We should follow after them with the same faith and patience which characterized their lives.

Conclusion

It is frightening how quickly we forget those who precede us in death. I read recently about a man who used to thing everyone was thinking about him. He later wondered if anyone thought about him. He finally realized few really cared enough to think about him at all. Ever listen to people talk at a funeral? Most people speak little of the eternal quality of the person's life. They pine away out of a sense of great personal loss, but it is certainly selfish. Our grief and regret is for the loss of impact upon eternity. Costly in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.

It is frightening how quickly we forget those who precede us in death. I read recently about a man who used to thing everyone was thinking about him. He later wondered if anyone thought about him. He finally realized few really cared enough to think about him at all. Ever listen to people talk at a funeral? Most people speak little of the eternal quality of the person's life. They pine away out of a sense of great personal loss, but it is certainly selfish. Our grief and regret is for the loss of impact upon eternity. Costly in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints. We know the true value of a godly life. It is an example of what it means to live in preparation for death. The value of living is found in eternity. Everything we do ought to be done with an affection and passion for Christ. He took away the sting of death for us. That's certainly precious to us. His costly death for us means we look forward to our own death and judgment in a way that is incomprehensible to non-believers. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to dies is gain" ().

We know the true value of a godly life. It is an example of what it means to live in preparation for death. The value of living is found in eternity. Everything we do ought to be done with an affection and passion for Christ. He took away the sting of death for us. That's certainly precious to us. His costly death for us means we look forward to our own death and judgment in a way that is incomprehensible to non-believers. "For to me, to live is Christ, and to dies is gain" ().

“Precious [Costly] in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints.” (, NKJV)