116:12-14 It is difficult to tell if the writer used "cup"in a literal or in a figurative sense. Perhaps it was a literal part of his thank offering to God. On the other hand the cup may represent his lot in life that was physical salvation. Either way he would praise God. Israelites offered votive offerings when God answered their prayers regarding a vow they made. These were peace offerings (Lev. 7:16; 22:18-13). They were also public offerings that reminded other worshippers of God's goodness. The NIV rendering of the end of verse 14 is probably best. It reads, ". . . in the presence of all his people."
Think again of Jesus singing verses 12-14 and raising the cup as He sang. The Jews traditionally sang Psalm 116 after the Passover meal. It is probable that when He sang these verses He raised the third of four cups of wine the Jews drank at that meal. They called the third cup "the cup of salvation."He knew that that cup would only become a true cup of salvation if He paid His vows to the LORD and proceeded to the cross.
116:15-19 The death of the godly is significant to God; it is costly to Him (cf. Matt. 10:29-31; John 10:28-29).191He does not treat their dying as trivial. Consequently the fact that He delivered the psalmist from dying meant that He had good reason for doing so. Interestingly verse 15, which has brought so much comfort to believers who have lost loved ones through the centuries, rests in a context of deliverance. Again the writer promised to praise God publicly with the proper offering (v. 18, cf. v. 14). The psalm ends with an exhortation for all the living to praise the Lord.
How comforting verses 15-16 would have been to the Lord Jesus as He celebrated His last Passover meal on earth. He would have thought of His own mother when he sang "the son of Thy handmaid"in verse 16. In verses 17-19 Jesus vowed to praise God after He fulfilled God's will by dying and after God had raised Him up.192
Death is an enemy. Therefore when God continues our lives He is saving us from an enemy. The continuation of life is something we should never take for granted. God could take the life of any person at any time and be perfectly righteous since we are all sinners and deserve to die. However, He graciously extends life and for this His people should give Him public thanks.
