תהלים, פרק קי״ו, פסוק ט״ו

The bond between God and those who love Him is defined by a deep, watchful care over their lives. God actively protects His devoted followers because He has a profound desire to keep them from destruction. Recognizing this special relationship, the singer understands that his own rescue from death was a direct result of belonging to this loyal community.

The passing of the righteous is not viewed through a lens of material value; rather, their loss is considered a heavy, difficult, and highly significant matter [רש״י, מצודת ציון, שטיינזלץ]. It is deeply hard in the eyes of God to issue a decree of death upon His righteous followers [תורה תמימה, אלשיך]. This divine reluctance is especially true when it comes to the possibility of the devoted passing away prematurely, before their proper time [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד].

Grasping this truth, the singer realizes exactly why he experienced so many life-saving miracles. Because God holds back from bringing death upon His faithful, He actively guards their souls, constantly devising ways to help them escape fatal danger [אלשיך, מאירי, מלבי״ם]. This heavy burden of losing a righteous soul drives God to redeem and save their lives, a recurring theme throughout biblical accounts of rescue [רד״ק, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון].

Furthermore, there is a greater purpose behind this divine protection. God desires the righteous to remain in the world because only the living have the ability to praise and thank Him. Once they pass away, this opportunity for praise is lost, making their continued life essential to fulfilling their worldly purpose [מלבי״ם].