Psalm 116 Part 3

The first sermon preached in Australia in 1788 by Richard Johnson was from Ps116:12.In gratitude, the psalmist wisely considered why God had been so good to him instead of why he had problems at all (v12.) He knew that problems were common to all men, but the benefits often only belonged to those who trusted God. 

Initially, v13was a metaphor of gratitude. This is a profound insight; the only way we can repay God is to take gratefully from Him what He is offering! Every time we grasp the golden chalice of His blessings, we can receive by faith its divine contents into our lives. There is, however, a connection between the metaphor originally intended and its prophetic utterance as found in the inaugural NT communion. There were 4 cups of wine dispersed over the Passover meal. They were based on Ex6:6-7. The first cup was called the cup of sanctification. Gen6:6 says, “I will bring you out from Egypt.” They were to be transferred from one world to another. They were to be set apart for a purpose. We also have been removed from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light, because of what Christ has done for us. He has also given us a purpose to serve Him and become more like Him. The second cup is the cup of praise, again from Gen 6:6 “I will deliver you.” We have been delivered from bondage (Egypt), we have been set free from sin to a new life. The third cup was the one Jesus took at the conclusion of the meal and is the one we celebrate as the cup of the new covenant.

Ex6:6 “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm.” It was the cup of redemption. It represented God taking back what is rightfully His (from Egypt). In the New covenant, it refers to us who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. We have been bought back. The fourth cup is the cup of acceptance (Gen6:7). “I will be your God.” We have been accepted by God because of what Christ has done. We are no longer aliens, but sons and daughters. This cup defines our Christian life.