God Holds His Children Precious (vv. 12-15). After he had been delivered, the psalmist wanted to express his gratitude to the Lord, and he did so in four ways. First, he brought a thank offering to the Lord at the sanctuary (v. 17; Lev. 3; 7:11-21). Second, part of this sacrifice, the priest would pour out a portion of wine on the altar as a symbol of the worshipper’s life poured out to serve the Lord. This was indeed a “cup of salvation” for the psalmist whose life could have been destroyed by the enemy. Third, the priest kept back part of the offering for a feast held after the sacrifice, and there the worshipper shared his food and his joy with his family and friends. At that feast, the psalmist called on the Lord and publicly thanked Him for His mercies. Fourth, following the ceremony and feast, the psalmist began to keep the promises he had made to the Lord during his time of great suffering and danger (vv. 14, 18). We must not consider these vows to be “holy bribes” given in payment for God’s help, for the psalmist surely knew that God’s will cannot be influenced by man’s gifts. (See Job 41:11, quoted in Rom. 11:35.) “Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?” (nkjv).

God’s Son is precious to the Father and to all believers (1 Peter 2:4-7), and the Father loves us so much that He gave Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place (Rom. 5:8). If our Father loves us that much, then He must be concerned not only with how we live but also how and when we die. For believers, death is not an accident but an appointment (Ps. 139:16, and see 39:4-6). If the Father pays attention to the death of every sparrow, surely He will be concerned about the death of His saints (Matt. 10:29-31; John 11:1-16). Just as the blood of Christ is precious (1 Peter 1:19), so our blood is precious to God (72:12-14). God’s servants are immortal until their work on earth is done. They can be foolish and hasten the day of their death, but they cannot go beyond their appointed time. That is in God’s hands (48:14; Job 14:5 niv; Luke 2:26).