The Spiritual Journey 2024 - Day 37: Honor God for His salvation.

“I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭116‬:‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

David was running for his life from King Saul. At one point, he sought refuge in the cave of Abdullam. It wasn’t long before all those who were in some sort of trouble and distress, gathered to him there. These men would come to be known as David’s “mighty men,” David’s army.

At one point while in that cave, David longingly mused to himself:

 “”Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!””

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now, at this point, Bethlehem was occupied by a garrison of the Philistines. Even still, three of his mighty men, upon hearing David’s words, broke through the Philistines’ camp, drew water from the well of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. However, when the men returned from this mission, David poured out the water to the Lord, saying:

““Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.“

‭‭II Samuel‬ ‭23‬:‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

David, knowing what peril these three men had faced to bring him that cup of water, saw it as too precious of a thing, to consume. He chose rather to offer the water as a drink offering to the Lord.

The practice of giving drink offerings was what Paul was referencing when he said this to Timothy:

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.“

‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As well, Paul was referencing a drink offering when he spoke this to the Philippians:

“But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.“

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Indeed, the psalmist, prophetically speaking in the stead of Jesus, spoke of His life being poured out.

“My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax, melting within me.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now here’s the mind blowing aspect of Christ’s drink offering of His own precious blood: He poured out Himself, His Life, to obtain and secure our salvation!

In today’s portion of Psalms 116 we see the psalmist, after having thought how to render something back to the Lord for His benefits, speaks of lifting the cup of salvation. The Lord had saved him from destruction. Now he offers a “toast” back to God, lifting the cup representing the Lord’s salvation, back to Him.

Think of it. Jesus drank the cup of suffering and death so that we could drink the cup of salvation and everlasting life!

Yes, Jesus was/is all God; but He was/is also all man. Yet, He drank the cup of suffering poured for Him by the Father.

“He [Jesus] went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭39‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As a matter of fact, Jesus refused any attempt to try to save Him from His cup.

“Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?””

‭‭John‬ ‭18‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Lord, speaking prophetically through Isaiah, says this:

“Therefore, I will divide and give Him a portion with the great [kings and rulers], And He shall divide the spoils with the mighty, Because He [willingly] poured out His life to death, And was counted among the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore and took away the sin of many, And interceded [with the Father] for the transgressors.“

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Yes, we have obtained everlasting life by way of the awful price paid by our Lord.

And, as the apostle Paul remarked, our life doesn’t belong to us. Our life belongs to the Lord.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.“

‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

David’s mighty men offered him a cup of water they had obtained at their own peril. Jesus offers us a cup He obtained, not just by exposing Himself to peril, but by offering Himself even to death. How can we not pour out our lives as an offering on the Lord’s sacrifice?

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.“

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Unless we are called to be a martyr, we pour out our lives as a living sacrifice. That is, we live our lives for His purposes and His purposes alone.

Each time we share in the Lord’s table, we are remembering the price He paid—His death—to offer us the cup of salvation. Let us show our gratitude for what He has done, by pouring out our lives for His glory.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

#thespiritualjourney2024