Psalm 115:16-19 “Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints. LORD, truly I am your servant. I am your servant, the son of your servant girl. You have freed me from my chains. I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call on the LORD’s name. I will pay my vows to the LORD, yes, in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the LORD’s house, in the middle of you, Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!”

In the midst of repeating the various themes of our chapter (the paying of vows, thanksgiving, proclamation in the community of faith, praise, and salvation), we see something new. “Precious in the LORD’s sight is the death of his saints.” It seems out of place in a Psalm that praises God for physical salvation in this life, unless it is, in fact, hinting at the truth of a future resurrection. Perhaps the salvation we have to look forward to (and should be the most thankful for) transcends our earthly existence!

John 19:26 “After my skin is destroyed, then I will see God in my flesh,”

John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.’ “

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 “But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

For additional worship: I Can Only Imagine (Mercy Me)