What are the privileges of those who serve God? Psalm 16, most scholars agree is about a person who has become a priest of Yahweh. The psalm describes his resolve not to serve any other gods and declares his exclusive loyalty to the God of Israel (Psalm 16:1-2).
One of the privileges of the priests in Israel was to eat part of what was offered to God. It could be portions of the sacrificial meat, or could be the Show Bread presented before Yahweh everyday (Lev. 22:7). The psalmist refers to this in verse 5: “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot” (KJV).
Sometimes husbands and wives or lovers express their love by sipping the drink from the other partner’s cup. That’s one way of saying “I love you”. In some religious communities, during their feasts, they eat from the same plate to show their solidarity.
In verse 5, Psalmist considers God as his partner, from whose cup he has the right to drink. That is the privilege of serving God. God is not aloof; He is not just close to us. But for someone who serves God, God is a buddy who allows us to sip from his cup. One of the forces that drive a servant of God is this awareness that his partner is God and they share such close intimacy.
Christian believers express this at the Lord’s Table when we drink from the cup in remembrance of our Lord. So also we share from the same cup to express our solidarity with each other.
One of the privileges of the priests in Israel was to eat part of what was offered to God. It could be portions of the sacrificial meat, or could be the Show Bread presented before Yahweh everyday (Lev. 22:7). The psalmist refers to this in verse 5: “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot” (KJV).
Sometimes husbands and wives or lovers express their love by sipping the drink from the other partner’s cup. That’s one way of saying “I love you”. In some religious communities, during their feasts, they eat from the same plate to show their solidarity.
In verse 5, Psalmist considers God as his partner, from whose cup he has the right to drink. That is the privilege of serving God. God is not aloof; He is not just close to us. But for someone who serves God, God is a buddy who allows us to sip from his cup. One of the forces that drive a servant of God is this awareness that his partner is God and they share such close intimacy.
Christian believers express this at the Lord’s Table when we drink from the cup in remembrance of our Lord. So also we share from the same cup to express our solidarity with each other.