Psalm 116 Is without a doubt one of my favorite psalms. It is the fourth psalm in a collection of psalms that were brought together for use in Israel’s celebration of the Passover (Psalms 113-118). These songs all point people to the power and grace of God who saw his people in their distressful slavery in Egypt and determined to do something to deliver them. Take a moment to read the Psalm.
This Psalm makes the national narrative of corporate deliverance personal. It is not the people of God as a whole who are in dire straits – under the duress of cruel slavery and hoping that their male infants would not be killed (as described in Exodus 1). In this psalm it is the psalmist as an individual who is in dire straits. He is entangled by the cords of death – a different kind of bondage! And he needs deliverance from death, from tears, and from stumbling.
Just as God delivered the people from Egypt, he delivers this man from his deep distress. And right in the middle of this psalm we have, what is for me, the most interesting feature of its lyrics:
“How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.”
In the old English, this was translated with the words, “What shall I render unto the LORD…. I will take the cup of salvation…” Our more modern translations have softened the awkwardness of the original. Charles Spurgeon’s comment is right on the money:
“’I will take’ is a strange answer to the question, ‘What shall I render?’ and yet it is the wisest reply that could possibly be given.”
This Psalm underscores for us the fact that our best – indeed our only, response to the deliverance that God has accomplished for us is simply to take it! To lay a firm grip on the cup of salvation that is offered in the gospel and, in the words of the Westminster Confession of Faith, accept, receive, and rest on Christ alone for rescue from our own bondage – from our own entanglement, tears, and stumbling.[1]
This April as we reflect upon and celebrate Easter Sunday and the resurrection of our Lord, let us be mindful of the fact that his saving acts do in fact require a response from us. We must take the cup of salvation and call upon his name. What can you give to God in repayment for his grace and strong mercy? There is no repayment you can offer – simply take what he offers promptly and sincerely.
And publically! Fulfill your vows in the presence of the people. May the world know that you have taken that cup and that your God has truly set you free.
Your Pastor,
Bob Bjerkaas
[1] Westminster Confession of Faith, 14.2.
N.B. The artwork is a portion of the larger work The Last Supper by Simon Ushakov painted in 1685. In this cropped image I have zoomed in on the “cup of salvation” as it rests in front of Jesus with John looking expectantly at the cup.