Every human being owes God a death. Our sins mean we belong to death (verse 14). But God, instead of demanding a ransom from us, pays it himself (verse 15). The psalmist doesn’t know how this can be done, but he is confident. The missing piece is Jesus, who by his death killed death and set us free. Only at the cross do we discover how much it cost God to redeem us “from the realm of the dead.” So don’t resent, fear, or envy the rich (verse 16). Pity those who have nothing more than their riches.
