Real WOMEN Real FAITH - Eve

Eve

Finding Lasting Contentment in the Truth
- Day 5 -

In our culture today, we often use words to explain or to share our thoughts.  In Ancient times the Jewish people were visual.  In the Bible, the cup was often used as a symbol to illustrate the idea of giving.  

 

When a guest came to your home it was customary to offer him a drink.  You, as the host, would then select the type of beverage to be poured into the cup.  If your family did not own a vineyard, you would have already selected good wines from another vineyard to store in your home to share with your family and guests.   When you presented the cup filled with the selected wine, it was your way of saying, "I know how to determine what is good and I want to share it with you."  If the guest refused the offer of a drink or took the drink but didn't like the taste and didn't finish the cup, they were in fact saying, "I don't like your choices, I don't trust your judgement."

 

We can see this interaction played out in the relationship between God (giver) and the Israelites (receiver).  Let's take a look at just a couple of verses in the book of Psalms:

 

Psalm 16:5

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. (ESV)

 

David accepts God (rejecting the idols of other nations) - choosing to drink from, accept, receive what God offers.

 

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (ESV)

 

David acknowledges that the Lord has given the Israelites a land with many blessings even in times of trouble.  So many in fact that he sees his cup as overflowing.

 

Psalm 116:13

I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. (ESV)

 

David is thanking God for his gift of deliverance.

 

We also see another side in Isaiah 51:17

 

Wake yourself, wake yourself,

stand up, O Jerusalem,

you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord

the cup of his wrath,

who have drunk to the dregs

the bowl, the sup of staggering.

 

Go back a few verses and read 12-13 to find out why God is angry.  Do you see the guest who refused the drink offered by the host?

 

At times we feel empty and we are tempted to hold out our cups to be filled by things of the world.  Is God offering a "cup" that you won't accept?  or maybe you've accepted it, but now it doesn't meet your expectation and your not sure you want to finish it?

 

PRAY - Ask God to help you fall in love with his Word and feed on it daily so you are fortified and equipped for the attacks Satan will bring against you.

 

SHARE - Do you see your cup as overflowing?  In what way?  Let's praise God together!

 

Tomorrow we will take a look at the cup in the New Testament.