Divine Images, part 8: cup (part two)

 I wrote previously: “The cup is ordinarily used to refer to your portion.”   Here, again, are some things to consider next time you reach for your cup. 

First, remember that God assigns each man his portion.  Some would have every man given an equal portion.  They would like the government to intervene so that all are on economically ‘level ground’.  Some are against inequalities of any kind.  This unrest comes from discontent and unbelief.  God is our Maker and our Sovereign. It belongs to Him to assign our portion.  He raises up some and puts down on others.  To some God gives great riches in this life, while others are destined by Him to lifelong poverty.  Some enjoy freedom, while others live their lives the servants (or slaves) of others.  It pleases their King when His people bow their heads and say, “it is the LORD let Him do what seemeth good to Him.”   As our potter He has the right to make of His clay whatever He pleases: some to honour and some to dishonour.  God is the giver of every good gift, and it is good for man to take his portion and rejoice in his labour.  “Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God (Ecclesiastes 5:9).  “From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes (Psalm 17:14).”  “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 26:26)?”

Second, remember that it is a vain thing to have our portion in this life.  “From men which are thy hand, O Lord, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes (Psalm 17:14).”

Third, remember that there is a cup of trembling for a wayward, rebellious people particularly those who profess faith in His name yet refuse Him when He calls.  “Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of the Lord the cup of his fury; thou hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out (Isaiah 51:17).  “This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the Lord; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood (Jeremiah 13:25).” “Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:12).

Fourth, remember that in hand of the LORD there is a cup (Psalm 75:8) of wrath for the impenitent.  “Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup (Psalm 11:6).  “And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:51; see also Luke 12:46).”  “For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it (Jeremiah 25:15).  “Thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, with the cup of astonishment and desolation, with the cup of thy sister Samaria (Ezekiel 23:33).”  “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb (Rev 14:10).”  “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath (Revelation 16:19).”

Fourth, remember that God has taken out of our hand the cup of trembling.  Our Saviour drank the cup of wrath as our Substitute; and now as our Surety pleads the cause of His people.  “Thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again (Isaiah 51:22).”  “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:39; see also Mark 14:23, Lk 22:17, 20).

Fifth, remember that many who take the name pastor harm rather than help the vineyard.  God says, “Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness (Jeremiah 12:10).”  Pray that would remove such pastors from His vineyard.

Sixth, remember that something as simple as a cup of water given to the least of God’s people - in the name of Jesus - will be remembered and rewarded.  “And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward (Matthew 10:42, Mark 9:41).”

Seventh, remember that while no man can redeem the life of another, and while only the Son of God could drink the cup of God’s wrath and live, there is a cup of suffering for every believer.  To each of us is given a measure of suffering for Jesus’ sake.  We shall indeed drink of His cup!  “But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father (Matthew 20:22-23).”

Eighth, remember that it is a mark of Pharisees and all religious hypocrites to make much of the externals of religion while neglecting the weighted matters of the heart.  Far better to clean the inside of the cup than to clean the exterior and leave the inside dirty.  “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess (Matthew 23:25).”

Ninth, remember that the cup of blessing from which we are commanded to drink is a sign and seal of God’s covenant promise in Christ.  Every time we drink freely from that cup we are reminded not only of our communion with the saints, but of the free remission of our sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it (26:27, Luke 11:39).”