"God did not make death,"
This is one for the theologians. If God didn't make death then that means God didn't make all things.... providing death is a "thing". Perhaps we don't understand death as well as we should. When Jesus told the little girl in the gospel to arise he understood what or from where she was coming. It was not death as we would know it. Today's psalm says "O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld; you preserved me from among those going down into the pit." Obviously the old testament writers believed in some sort of life after death. I guess for me the main thing is that Jesus rescues us from the "netherworld" or the "pit" mentioned in Psalm 30. The best response then is to praise our God for his help.
Yesterday at mass I was definitely in need of some rescue. I'd just gotten in from a long weekend camping and was not only behind in preparations for mass but had gotten my weeks messed up and put myself even more behind until I found out I was preparing for the wrong week. Then the Lord stepped in and rescued me. I have the most awesome group of musicians that help lead worship at mass. They could have easily said something about my lack of professionalism or lack of preparations but instead they did what comes naturally to them. They took up the slack. If I were to thank them they'd even be a little insulted because it's what they expect from themselves. And so we played for mass without much practice and just prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide us and our congregation in praising through music. Of course he did and father didn't stop mass and say "That's enough of this. We're going home!" or "You guys over there, trying to sound like an ape band at the zoo.... you've succeeded. Now go down and sit with the congregation.... quietly!" Nope. None of that happened. The Holy Spirit didn't just guide us in music but he guided every member of the group and congregation to be there at that moment. It was in listening to his call that these wonderful people answered yes and allowed him to lead them in worship in spite of me. I will definitely praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.
Sheet Music for Psalm:30 (remember you can change the key if needed)