" PRECIOUS in the Sight of the LORD... "

     What do you hold most precious ?  Is it your husband, your children, maybe your job or education; how about your life ?  The longer I have been studying the WORD of GOD the more amazed I become at HIS inexhaustible ability to love and forgive those who have done just about every awful thing that man can think of to do.  I myself had a mouth full of vulgar words, including using my blessed LORD's name in vain. Not to get off of the subject,  but have you ever heard anyone use the devils name as a swear word ?   Just thinking !

     The very moment that the LORD came into my heart and life HE gave me a new mouth.  I was and still am not perfect and will not be til I leave this body of flesh to receive my new body either by the rapture of the Bride or by my leaving this life through the death of my body and immediately being in the presence of my precious LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.  But my study today is about things that are precious. Let's look at what GOD holds precious and see if HIS list is the same as our list.

     The first time the word precious was used was in the Book of Genesis, but I want us to look at the next usage of the word in the Book of Deuteronomy. In the 33rd chapter, Moses is blessing the tribes of Israel before his death and in verses 13-17 were the blessing of the tribe of Joseph :

     And of Joseph he said:

Blessed of the LORD is his land, with the precious things of heaven, with the dew, and the deep lying beneath, with the precious fruits of the sun, with the precious produce of the months, with the best things of the ancient mountains, with the precious things of the everlasting hills, with the precious things of the earth and its fullness, and the favor of HIM who dwelt in the bush.  Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.  His glory is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like the horns of the wild ox; together with them he shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. 

     The story of Joseph and what he went through is such a wonderful picture of what our LORD went through when HE left the glories of Heaven and came to this sin cursed world to " HIS own, but they received HIM not ".   Precious to GOD was Josephs testimony, his witness to others about the GOD that he served.  No matter in what state we find Joseph, he trusts GOD to take care of him.  GOD prospered Joseph in all that he did.  Whoever's home he lived in, that home also prospered for Joseph's sake.  So precious, to GOD, is our witness and testimony before others; to bring HIM glory and honor while we are here.

     I will not be able to cover all the places in GOD's WORD that use the word precious, but I will try and give you the best of the best.  The next two times the word is used is in the Book of 1st.Samuel 3:1 and 26:21.  In 3:1 it says, " Then the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the WORD of the LORD was precious (rare) in those days; there was no widespread revelation. "  Sadly this verse is telling us that the man of GOD, at this time, was not fully doing what GOD had called him to do.  Eli was getting old and his sons were doing great evil behind his back, but he knew about it.  The LORD blessed the prayers of Hannah, Samuel's mother, by giving her a son and she in turn had promised to give him back to the LORD after he had been weaned.  Her faithfulness in giving back to the LORD what had been given to her, from HIM, was going to be of a great blessing not only to her but to the children of Israel; because as the verse says, " the WORD of the LORD was precious (rare) in those days ".   The raising up of Samuel would change the rarity of GOD's WORD and it would once again be faithfully spoken.

     The second time it was used in 1st.Samuel was in chapter 26 verse 21.  Saul was King of Israel and his jealousy of David was getting the better of him. There was several occasions where the LORD allowed Saul to be close to David without Saul's knowledge.  This was one of those times and vs.21 says, " Then Saul said, ' I have sinned. Return my son David. For I will harm you no more because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.' "   In vs.23 David says that Saul was GOD's anointed and he would not harm him.  David knew that when the time was right that GOD would take Saul off of the throne and put David there.  So even though Saul was not doing what was right in GOD's eyes, David knew that Saul's life and times were in GOD's hands.

     In the Book of Psalms there are many great examples of GOD's use of the WORD precious. Let me list some of them for you:

Psalm 49:6-8 " Those who trust in their wealth and boast in the multitude of their riches; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to GOD a ransom for him -- For the redemption of their souls is precious (costly), and it shall cease forever "

Psalm 72:13-14 " HE will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy. HE will redeem their life from oppression and violence; and precious shall be their blood in HIS sight. "

Psalm 72:15 " Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of HIS saints. "

Psalm 126:6 " He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing precious seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. "

Psalm 133:All " BEHOLD ! how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity ! It is like the precious oil upon the head running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commanded the blessing -- Life forevermore.

Psalm 139:17 " How precious also are YOUR thoughts to me, O GOD ! How great is the sum of them ! "

     The Book of Proverbs talks about how precious GOD's wisdom and knowledge is to those who are trained by them.  Ecclesiastics 7:1 talks about a good name is precious. The Book of Isaiah, GOD uses the word precious 5 times, one of them was in 28:16 which says, " Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: ' Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily.' "

The word is also used in Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and in Daniel which for time sake I won't give, because I want to get to some places in the New Testament, which give very good examples of what GOD holds as precious.

     Matthew and Mark both give the story of Mary anointing JESUS with a precious (costly) oil of spikenard, getting HIS body ready for burial.  The next time the word is used is in 1st.Corinthians 3:12 when Paul is talking about building upon the foundation of CHRIST, our CHIEF CORNERSTONE with anything other than gold, silver, precious stones that will endure; or wood, hay or straw that will be burned up.  The lasting value of our works, done in CHRIST, are precious in the sight of GOD and will be rewarded.

     James chapter 5 shows us something else that is precious in the sight of GOD, our patient endurance by faith. 7-8 states, " Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the LORD. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the LORD is at hand. "

     1st.Peter also has 5 uses of the word precious, all of which are great examples to us. 1:6-9 states, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of JESUS CHRIST, WHOM having not seen you love. Though now you do not see HIM, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  and again in 1:18-19 it says, " knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, BUT with the precious(priceless)blood of CHRIST, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."  2:4,6 & 7 also show the preciousness of our spiritual sacrifices unto GOD through the LORD JESUS.

     I am going to end this study of what is "precious" to GOD with 2nd Peter 1:1-4, " Simon Peter, a servant, and Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our GOD and SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST; grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of JESUS our LORD, as HIS divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of HIM WHO called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

     Precious to GOD is the blood shed for us. Precious to GOD is the death of HIS Saints. Precious to GOD is our testimony, our faith, our endurance, what building materials we use, our love for the brethren. Precious to GOD are the promises that HE has given to us that cannot be broken. Precious to GOD is HIS WORD to us and it will not return to HIM void but will accomplish what HE sends it out to do. As I stated above, I am amazed each time I do any specific word study.  GOD brings so much to my mind that I cannot type fast enough.  HE is so precious to me, but many times I feel I fall short of what HE wants me to do; but I keep pressing forward toward the mark, not looking back nor listening to the deceiver who always has a negative word to whisper.

     For those who have read this post and have made it all the way to the bottom,  you are precious to me and I hope that this blog will bring you closer to GOD and HIS WORD and to HIS SON, the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  HE said in John 14:1a,  " Let not your heart be troubled, believe, ".   Keep looking up, our new mansions are just about ready and keep your ear to the wind for HIS call !!!

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie