The cup of salvation mentioned in Psalm 116:13 refers to the cup that is part of the thanksgiving sacrifice that a person would make to God after being delivered from some calamity or trial. When we look at the context of Psalm 116, the psalmist is recounting how God delivered him from death (Ps 116:3, 116:8). As an expression of thanksgiving and fulfillment of a vow made to the Lord (Ps 116:12-14, 18-19), the psalmist would have participated in offering a thanksgiving sacrifice at the temple as described in Leviticus 7:12-15. Part of this ritual involved drinking from a cup of wine, referred to metaphorically as “the cup of salvation.”
Let’s take a closer look at the meaning and significance of the cup of salvation:
1. It was part of the thanksgiving sacrifice
Leviticus 7:12 describes the thanksgiving sacrifice which involved offering unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour mixed with oil. Along with this grain offering, they were to sacrifice a peace offering of thanksgiving and eat the meat from it in a ceremonial meal (Lev 7:12-15).
Part of this ceremonial meal involved drinking a cup of wine. We see this in David’s psalm of thanksgiving in Psalm 116: “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD” (Ps 116:13). The cup of wine was referred to as the “cup of salvation” because it was part of the thanksgiving sacrifice celebrating God’s salvation and deliverance.
2. It was symbolic of joy and blessing
Drinking from the cup during the thanksgiving meal represented the joy, comfort, and blessing that God provides for those whom He saves. Throughout the Old Testament, wine is seen as a symbol of joy, celebration, and blessing from God (Psalm 104:15; Isaiah 55:1; Amos 9:14). At the Last Supper, Jesus takes the cup, giving thanks and declaring it to be the “new covenant in [His] blood” (Luke 22:20). The cup represents the promised redemption, salvation, and blessing made possible through Christ’s sacrificial death.
For the psalmist, raising the cup of wine during the ceremonial feast reminds him of God’s abundant blessing and the joy of salvation. It is a symbolic representation of what God has done by rescuing and delivering him from death.
3. It was an act of thanksgiving to God
Most importantly, drinking the cup of salvation was an act of thanksgiving and praise for the saving, redeeming work of God. Psalm 116:13 says “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.” Lifting up the cup and calling on the Lord’s name was essentially a prayer of thanksgiving, recognizing that salvation and deliverance come from God alone. The ritual of drinking the cup served as a public testimony and witness to what God had done.
Earlier in Psalm 116, the psalmist expresses his love and gratitude to the Lord who heard his cry for mercy and rescued him from death (Ps 116:1-6). His vow was to call upon the Lord and to offer Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Ps 116:12-14, 17). Drinking the cup of salvation fulfilled this vow and was an act of thanksgiving for God’s amazing grace.
4. It was deeply symbolic of trust in God’s promises
On a symbolic level, the cup of salvation represents a deeper trust and confidence in God’s faithful promises. Salvation is the central theme of Psalm 116, as the psalmist cries “The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me” (Ps 116:6) and “you have delivered my soul from death” (Ps 116:8). God is the one who provides salvation and delivers the psalmist from harm.
The cup of salvation, lifted up in thanks to God, becomes a tangible reminder of His promise of salvation for all who call upon His name. Drinking from the cup required an act of faith in God’s covenant loyalty and saving character. Each time the ceremony was performed, participants expressed trust in the Lord who “is gracious and merciful” (Ps 116:5).
For Christians today, the cup of salvation foreshadows Christ’s atoning work on the cross. At the Last Supper, Jesus blessed the cup as the new covenant in His blood, providing redemption for sinners once for all (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:28). As we partake of communion, the cup reminds us of God’s gracious salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
5. It was a public display of devotion to God
The thanksgiving sacrifice described in Leviticus 7 took place at the temple before the altar. Psalm 116 gives details of vows and sacrifices the psalmist promises to carry out “in the presence of all his people” (Ps 116:14,18). Drinking the cup of salvation was meant to be a public display of thankfulness and devotion to God who delivered him.
Likewise, singing psalms of praise and calling upon the Lord’s name (Ps 116:13, 17) allowed the psalmist’s gratitude and love for God to be expressed openly, for all to see. The cup of salvation ritual celebrated God’s mercy and salvation in a communal context, strengthening the faith of all who witnessed it.
6. It foreshadowed the cup at the Last Supper
While the original context of Psalm 116 refers to literal drink offerings, the cup of salvation also takes on a symbolic meaning in light of the New Testament. At the Last Supper before His crucifixion, Jesus shared a cup with His disciples saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:20). Though Jesus was celebrating Passover, His words indicate the cup of blessing also represents His atoning sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins.
Just as the psalmist lifted up the cup of salvation as a thank offering to God for redemption, Jesus lifted up the cup as a symbol of the far greater redemption and salvation He would accomplish in His own body and blood. The cup foreshadowed Christ’s death on the cross as God’s means of salvation for all who place their faith in Him.
7. It points to future eschatological promises
Not only does the cup of salvation represent Christ’s redemptive work in the past, it also carries a future-oriented meaning. In speaking of the Last Supper, Jesus told His disciples, “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). The cup of salvation points ahead to the messianic banquet, the great heavenly wedding feast at which Jesus will drink with His people at the culmination of God’s kingdom (Revelation 19:9).
The cup of thanksgiving in Psalm 116 foreshadows not only Christ’s earthly sacrifice but also the eternal blessings of salvation believers will experience with Him in glory. It represents a profound hope in God’s faithful promises to redeem and restore all things in Christ.
8. It reminds us of Christ’s Lordship over all creation
An interesting detail in Psalm 116 is that the psalmist calls on the Lord to deliver his soul while in the “land of the living” (Ps 116:9). Jesus similarly refers to the cup at the Last Supper while in the mortal flesh, yet the cup represents His impending death and resurrection. This demonstrates Christ’s sovereign authority over both the mortal world and the realm to come. The cup of salvation testifies that Jesus is Lord of all creation, with power over both life and death.
As Jesus said after instituting communion at the Last Supper, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). The cup reminds believers that eternal life is found in Christ alone, the Lord and giver of salvation.
9. It requires an active faith and obedient response
While God graciously provides salvation, the psalmist’s experience also demonstrates the importance of an active faith and obedience in response. After crying out to the Lord in faith, the psalmist vows, “I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 116:9). He commits to serve God dutifully as an expression of thanks.
Likewise, drinking the cup of salvation was not a passive ritual. It entailed publicly professing faith in God, remembering His mercy, giving praise and thanks, and renewing vows of obedience. All who drank from the cup displayed an active trust in the Lord’s deliverance.
For Christians who partake of communion, the cup of salvation is a call to live in joyful obedience to Christ. As we drink, we renew our pledge to follow Him in grateful service, walking before God in the power of His Spirit.
10. It requires community and fellowship with other believers
Lastly, the experience of drinking the cup of salvation pointed to the value of community. As part of the ceremonial feast at the temple, it was intended as a communal act of worship and remembrance. The psalmist speaks of fulfilling his vows to the Lord “in the presence of all his people” (Ps 116:14). His testimony of salvation would strengthen the faith of the entire assembly.
At the Last Supper, Jesus shared one cup with His twelve disciples, binding them together symbolically through partaking of the same drink. The cup became a unifying reminder of God’s covenant promises. Paul explains that as we drink the cup of communion together, we express fellowship and shared identity in Christ (1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
The cup of salvation is a powerful reminder that God’s redemptive work establishes a people joined together in Him. It draws believers into community, as we rejoice in what Christ has done for us.