That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.
Continued life on earth without dying, rescued from death and the grave so as never to decay, is what a ransom would have to secure. No riches, money, gold, glory, or human power, however great, can pay God such a price to redeem oneself or another from death. Wealth cannot hold back death or keep anyone out of the grave, and once breath is gone gold cannot bring life back, for rich and poor alike die. The psalm sets two ends side by side, with the wicked laid in the grave while the righteous receive dominion in the morning. That morning brings deliverance from the power of the grave in the first resurrection, when the righteous live and reign with Christ, so trust belongs in God rather than in men who cannot save even themselves.
Meaning of the Ransom
A ransom equal to the need would have to keep a person still living on and on, forever exempt from seeing corruption. No wealth can meet that price, whether offered to redeem another person or oneself from the grave. The cost of earthly life carried beyond death lies altogether outside human means. The life in view is continued life on earth without dying, a life redeemed from death and the grave.
The psalm sets this hope within a contrast between the ends of the wicked and the righteous. The wicked are laid in the grave, while the righteous receive dominion in the morning. That morning brings redemption from the power of the grave and a share in the first resurrection, when the righteous live and reign with Christ.
Wealth, Death, and Trust
No riches, money, gold, glory, or human power, however great, can pay God a ransom to redeem oneself or another person from death so as to still live forever and not see corruption. No one can buy continued earthly life for himself or for a loved one, and the price of life beyond death is beyond human means. Wealth and glory cannot save even the rich themselves from temporal death.
Money cannot delay death or keep a person from entering the grave, and gold cannot redeem anyone from death or restore life once breath departs. Death comes to rich and poor alike, which shows the weakness of the richest and proudest and that riches cannot overcome human mortality. Human beings die and see corruption, for neither humans nor animals have immortal life in themselves, and continued life depends on the breath God gives.
All face the first death and corruption, and this universal outcome shows that God's stated penalties are certain. Just as death came to all under the original law, the second death will be inflicted on those who disobey the gospel. The righteous therefore need not fear human enemies, since those enemies cannot ultimately rescue even themselves from death. Those who do not fear God have reason to fear, because their wealth and glory cannot help them in their greatest need, and the verse teaches the necessity of trust in God.
A soul is worth far more than riches. Yet the means God gives can be used to help or hinder the work of saving souls.
Continued life on earth without dying, rescued from death and the grave so as never to decay, is what a ransom would have to secure. No riches, money, gold, glory, or human power, however great, can pay God such a price to redeem oneself or another from death. Wealth cannot hold back death or keep anyone out of the grave, and once breath is gone gold cannot bring life back, for rich and poor alike die. The psalm sets two ends side by side, with the wicked laid in the grave while the righteous receive dominion in the morning. That morning brings deliverance from the power of the grave in the first resurrection, when the righteous live and reign with Christ, so trust belongs in God rather than in men who cannot save even themselves.
Meaning of the Ransom
A ransom equal to the need would have to keep a person still living on and on, forever exempt from seeing corruption. No wealth can meet that price, whether offered to redeem another person or oneself from the grave. The cost of earthly life carried beyond death lies altogether outside human means. The life in view is continued life on earth without dying, a life redeemed from death and the grave.
The psalm sets this hope within a contrast between the ends of the wicked and the righteous. The wicked are laid in the grave, while the righteous receive dominion in the morning. That morning brings redemption from the power of the grave and a share in the first resurrection, when the righteous live and reign with Christ.
Wealth, Death, and Trust
No riches, money, gold, glory, or human power, however great, can pay God a ransom to redeem oneself or another person from death so as to still live forever and not see corruption. No one can buy continued earthly life for himself or for a loved one, and the price of life beyond death is beyond human means. Wealth and glory cannot save even the rich themselves from temporal death.
Money cannot delay death or keep a person from entering the grave, and gold cannot redeem anyone from death or restore life once breath departs. Death comes to rich and poor alike, which shows the weakness of the richest and proudest and that riches cannot overcome human mortality. Human beings die and see corruption, for neither humans nor animals have immortal life in themselves, and continued life depends on the breath God gives.
All face the first death and corruption, and this universal outcome shows that God's stated penalties are certain. Just as death came to all under the original law, the second death will be inflicted on those who disobey the gospel. The righteous therefore need not fear human enemies, since those enemies cannot ultimately rescue even themselves from death. Those who do not fear God have reason to fear, because their wealth and glory cannot help them in their greatest need, and the verse teaches the necessity of trust in God.
A soul is worth far more than riches. Yet the means God gives can be used to help or hinder the work of saving souls.