Have you ever had a time when you cried out to the Lord for deliverance?  Even swore you would do something such as serve him all the days of your life, do something great for him, etc… if only he would come to your rescue?  And then he did?

This is a psalm where the psalmist prayed that and God delivered him from a life and death situation.  Such rescue elicits great praise.

“How can I repay the LORD for all the good He has done for me? I will take the cup of salvation and call on the name of Yahweh.  I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people” (Ps 116:14).

“The LORD guards the inexperienced; I was helpless, and He saved me” (Ps 116:6).

And then we get to the verse that has brought comfort to so many:

“The death of His faithful ones is valuable in the LORD’s sight” (Ps 116:15 – HCSB).

Or said another way:

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants” (NIV).

The death of his children is tender to the Lord.  He does not take the death of his cherished ones lightly.  It doesn’t mean he always rescues them in the sense that we all die, but he has rescued all who want to be rescued through Jesus.

The psalmist recognizes that he has been saved from death.  The Lord looked upon and saved him.  And now he fulfilled what he promised the Lord in dire circumstances.

“I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the LORD’s house–with you, Jerusalem.  Hallelujah!” (Ps 116:19).

“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you” (Ps 119:7).