- Redeem from Death and Hell
Psalm 49:15
But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave:
for he shall receive me. Selah.
Others, like the wicked rich, will descend into Death to be devoured by Hell, but God will redeem (ransom) me from the “hand of Sheol.” The Lord promises to snatch my soul from Death and Hell and receive me unto Himself. Just like Enoch and Elijah avoided death and were assumed into God’s Presence in Heaven, so like that the Lord promises me that I also will avoid Death and Hell and be received into God.
The OT believer cannot grasp the mystery of Messiah, Resurrection and Eternity, but the Prophets and Psalmists can paint pictures that the NT believer can more easily understand. Here the picture is that of Death and Sheol as places (or even personified monsters) that devour the wicked unbeliever, but the faithful believer has the Lord who snatches him from the hand of Sheol (the power of Hell) and receives him to Himself. And with even more certain hope than Enoch and Elijah we can know that because of Jesus’ Resurrection we are rescued from Hell. And we know beyond a doubt that when the time comes our souls shall be received directly into the arms of Jesus and the Home of the Father.
This is a wonderful promise that doesn’t say it in quite the complete way as the NT can say it, but the promise is the same: “You svhall be resurrected from the dead and received into heaven. You will not die, but live forever.” Yes!