The faithful love of God redeems from Devil, delivers from Sin, and saves from Death; mercy endures forever, the three enemies do not. The eternal love of the Lord rescues from death, caused by sin; this salvation is described in four metaphors, within this pattern: crisis of dying, prayer for help, salvation by God, call to praise.
First, God brings us from the desert of imminent death, the world, into the inhabited city of God’s Kingdom.
Second, He sets us free from the prison of sin and death, sentenced there for rebellion, into the freedom of life and light.
Third, He heals us from sicknesses, reminding of and approaching death, restoring life and health.
Fourth, He stills the storms of the sea of life, with its ups and downs and dangers, by bringing us into the safe haven of his eternal presence.
The Lord wounds and heals, kills and makes alive, allows weal and woe; all of life is under His control, no piece of life is unnoticed. And more, we ask and He gives the wisdom to observe the hand of God and to understand the steadfast love, the lovingkindness, of the Lord in everything.