Holy WeekDay 5
The cup
Maundy Thursday · Psalm 116: What Shall I Render to the LORD?
For today
Psalms 113 to 118, the Hallel, have long been sung at Passover, and many think this is the hymn Jesus and his friends sang before going out to the Mount of Olives. Hold the cup of salvation in mind tonight, and give thanks.
Begin with these verses
verse 12How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me? verse 13I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. verse 14I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all His people.
verse 15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. verse 16Truly, O LORD, I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have broken my bonds. verse 17I will offer to You a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.
In Christ
How this psalm points to Jesus
A theme the whole Bible completes in Christ · verse 13
At the Last Supper Jesus took the cup and called it the new covenant in his blood. Paul says that whenever we drink it we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
verse 27Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. verse 28This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. verse 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in My Father’s kingdom.” verse 30And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
verse 25In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” verse 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Optional. Kept only on this device, and never counted.