“What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the Name of the LORD; I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.” Psalm 116:12-14
Devotional Thought For The Day
You remember the young man who came to Jesus with the question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” This is a question of unbelief, the only question those who are ignorant of God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness in Christ Jesus are able to ask. Because they are unaware of what God has already done for us in Christ Jesus they can only believe that we must do something to obtain eternal life. Though the young man was pious and serious in his intent, and Jesus loved him for this, he was woefully unaware of his sin and idolatry. Jesus died for his sins, as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, but the young man was unaware and hence remained firm in his impenitence and unbelief. He went away sorrowful, but not nearly as sorrowful as Jesus – Who wills for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The question in our text is a question of faith and real piety. You see how the psalmist is thinking, how he is meditating upon “all His benefits to me.” This thoughtfulness does not ask what must be done in order to be saved, but rather joyfully and eagerly asks what might be done in gratitude to God because of His benefits, including preeminently His free of gift of eternal life and salvation – for the good and benefit of others and for the honor and glorification of God. The difference that faith makes is astronomical! Unbelief asks the impossible of us, and therefore sets us on a spiritual path of utter delusion and/or ultimately despair. Faith fills us with joy, comfort, confidence, courage, and an eager desire to live to the glory and service of God. It enables us to live in truth – the truth of humble and sorrowful repentance, but the truth of God’s perfect and steadfast love. Unbelief sets us on a path of hypocritical fake fruit; faith puts us in the midst of God’s great love and salvation which empowers, enables, and compels us to true and genuine fruit, fruit that truly glorifies God and that endures forever.
The psalmist answers his own question – with the wisdom of great faith and piety. First and foremost he commits himself to lifting up the cup of salvation and calling on the Name of the Lord. This is the exercise of faith itself – grasping and seizing what God offers to us and presses into our hands. It is our first act of true obedience to God – receiving the precious gift of salvation that He has freely provided for us by His gracious love, and that He so eagerly wills for us to have. For this Jesus suffered an unimaginable death on the cross under the cosmic justice of God – for the sin, guilt, and punishment of all human sin. For certain, in view of His sacrifice, God wills for us to take up His salvation. It is interesting that God provides this salvation to us in a cup – just as Jesus gives His disciples the cup which is “the New Covenant in My blood,” “for the forgiveness of sins.” We too can do just as the psalmist did each Sunday within the Christian church – at least within those churches that cling to His Word in faith. This is “calling on the Name of the Lord” – holding to His Word in faith, trust, and confidence.
Secondly, the psalmist recommits himself to the vows he has made to the Lord – and to do so publicly, for the good and benefit of God’s people. These are the vows of all truly repentant people – to go and sin no more. They include all the vows that we take in our various offices and vocations in life – to our spouse, to our children, to our parents, promises within the church, and in our occupations – vows to live in accord with God’s loving will as revealed in His Word, the Bible. The joy of God’s salvation is what fuels this desire and commitment, the peace and joy of what is already given and received in the cup of God’s salvation. The fact that we sin and violate these vows every day does not negate them – this is the devil’s dirty lie. He wants us to give up on God’s salvation and to give up on our vows and commitments to the Lord. Rather, following the psalmist and all true children of God, we continue to repent and to take up the cup of salvation, and daily renew our commitment to our vows.
There is danger every day in losing heart and being run down and depressed by the afflictions of the devil, the “accuser.” The psalmist knew this affliction, as all children of God know it. So the Lord, by means of this Word given through the psalmist, encourages us and lifts us up. He encourages us to look at the benefits He has provided to us – just think of them all, especially what He has done for us in Christ Jesus. He presses the cup of salvation into our hands – urging upon us the joy of His salvation. Made clean by the blood of Christ He then gently urges us – take up again your vows to the Lord! We are reminded that our life of repentance, faith, and service is important – others are watching. May we grow in our compassion and wisdom and encourage one another gently and winsomely – as this precious psalm does!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, Your benefits alone give us life, salvation, hope, and genuine encouragement. Hold them before us each day that we may rejoice in Your love. Remind us that our vows and service are important – to us, to You, and to others. Do not allow the evil one to use our weakness and failings to discourage and defeat us. Remind us that as we confess our sins You are faithful and just to forgive our sins. Remind us that where sin abounds there Your grace abounds all the more, that sin cannot overcome Your forgiveness. So strengthen us to continue to bring praise and glory to You in our continued commitment to love one another as You have loved us. Amen.