Psalm 116

This is a psalm of thanksgiving and recognition. The first thing that stands out to me is found within the first two verses.  The psalmist explains why he loves the Lord.  It is reminiscent of what John writes:

We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

God has given us reason to love Him back.  In fact, His love for us gives us the capacity to love Him back. If we aren’t shown what true love is, how then can we do so ourselves?  Love is taught to us.  It isn’t a given. It isn’t something we are born knowing how to do.  The catch: many, if not all, of us have been taught how to love incorrectly.  Isn’t that lovely?  We are born into an unloving, selfish, hurtful and cruel world.  As we age and mature, we replicate what we were taught love is.  Some of us are taught very well what Godly love is, or at least get glimpses of it.  However, if we are to know what real love is, then we must look to the inventor and source of love: God Himself.

When his life was in danger, God saved him.  When he was filled with distress and sorrow, God comforted him. When he was tired, God gave him rest and compassion.  When he was at his lowest, God lifted him up.  When he stumbled, God caught him.  When he walks in this treacherous world, God walks with him.  When he is surrounded by liars, God is truthful.

Do these things sound familiar?  They are very reminiscent of the beatitudes!  We find them in Matthew 5, the introduction to Jesus’ famous sermon on the mount.

³Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. ⁵Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. ⁷Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. ⁹Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹Blessed are you when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. ¹²Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.

Verse 12 echoes what the psalmist writes in the second half of Psalm 116.  “Rejoice and be glad…,” as for myself, I have historically looked at this as point of pride.  To me it has been a symbol of me being “on the right path,” as it were.  It has been a sign that if the world rejects and persecutes me, then I should be happy because people hate me as a result of my relationship with God.  But this is so short sighted!  In light of the psalmists musings, I must change this perspective.  The rejoicing and gladness isn’t about my own difficult circumstances themselves, rather it is in the knowing that God is with me, He loves me, and He is going to care for me despite my circumstances!  That is definitely reason to rejoice!  Honestly, it makes it easier to rejoice amidst difficulty.

In verse 13, he “raises the cup of salvation,” a term which in our context makes little to no sense, possibly creating confusion.  For myself, it is easy to miss the meaning of pieces of scripture like this and dismiss it as, “oh, it’s just an OT cultural reference I don’t understand.”  Cutting it out of the picture is a disservice to ourselves.  This refers to an offering of thanksgiving for salvation.  In the various customs of offerings performed by Old Testament Jews, drink offerings were one of them.  They were usually poured out on the altar as an offering of thanksgiving for one thing or another.  Now, let’s all lean in to how closely this is tied to everything:

The psalmist lifts a cup of gratitude in reverence to God’s salvation, which is then poured out, paying homage to God. It consisted of “strong drink” such as wine or oil and as it was poured out, was considered to be a “pleasant aroma” to God.  This started all the way back in Genesis (35) when Jacob made a covenant with God right after God promised to bless and multiply him.  It was Jacob’s way of thanking God with anticipation in reverence for “saving him” from the world and God’s promise to be with him through it all.  It was then preserved as a regular offering the priests would carry out for the same reason after an animal was sacrificed to cover the sins of the Israelites.  We see it here in Psalm 116, as the writer recognizes and thanks God for His continued salvation throughout life.  Then we see Jesus at the last supper in Matthew 26:27-28

²⁷ And after taking the cup and giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, ²⁸ for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins

As a continuance of this as an ongoing offering to God, we now drink of this cup in remembrance of Jesus’ offering of His own blood as we see Paul detailing in 1 Corinthians 11:

²⁵ Likewise also the cup, after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” ²⁶ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. ²⁷ 

So then, that little cup of juice or wine that is served in church is more than just a “remember what Jesus did for us,” it is an acceptance of God’s love for us.  It is an offering of thanksgiving for His salvation which He bestowed upon us.  It is a reminder that despite our hardship, we are blessed.  It is a sacrifice of thanksgiving after the Lamb of Salvation has been slaughtered.  There is no longer a need to sacrifice an animal because the ultimate sacrifice has been given.  When we drink of the cup, we are saying, just as the psalmist did, “I love the Lord because He loves me.”  We are committing ourselves to walk in His ways because He deserves it.  He saved our life.  All we can do to thank Him is to use that life to honor Him back.