We are more than halfway through a series on the theme of redemption.

Redemption is when you take back what is rightfully yours.

When something is lost or enslaved by another, and you get it back, it has been redeemed.

In the story of the Bible, we belong to God, but we've been enslaved by death.

God wants to take us back.

Now, in order for any redemption to take place, it usually costs something, like a payment called

a redemption price.

But, not always.

There are times when either God or someone will do an act of redemption, and there's no value exchange

mentioned or highlighted. In those cases, the words for redeem almost just becomes synonymous for

rescue, release. And that's what we're going to see here in the Psalms. In the scroll of Psalms, the word redemption often takes on this more general meaning of liberation or rescue or salvation.

And it's always connected to Israel's most foundational redemption story.

That past redemption, that repossession of Israel, provides a model or a template for a future hoped for redemption on the other side of exile.

A lot of the poems in the Psalms are written by King David, and he uses redemption language all the time.

David found himself with his life in danger many times,

King Saul chasing him around the wilderness,

and Yahweh through no agency of David,

brought about the downfall of King Saul

and exalted David to become king.

When David looks back on that in the Psalms,

he will describe that with,

you rescued me, you brought me out of the pit,

...