The first time the word "cup" is mentioned in
the Scripture, is Gen. 40:11. Pharaoh had become angry with his butler and had
him cast into prison where Joseph was kept. One night he had a dream, which,
the next morning, he related to Joseph. The dream concerned how he had squeezed
some grapes into a cup which he then gave to Pharaoh. Joseph interpreted the
dream for him, that in three days he would be restored to his place as butler
again. The butler was the CUP-BEARER, and it was his lot to pour some from the
cup into his own hand, and drink it to make sure it was not poisoned. Such
sharing was extremely intimate, a personal participation of LIFE, OR DEATH.
Thus "drinking the cup" bespeaks of the closeness of sharing with another.
We do find that there are both negative and
positive aspects given in the Word concerning the cup. We'll touch first upon
the negative. And read in Jeremiah 51:7, "Babylon has been a golden cup in the
Lord's hand, that has made all the earth drunken." While in Revelation 17:4, we
pick it up again, speaking of the great whore, "Having a golden cup in her hand
full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication."
A golden cup. "Golden" bespeaks of things of
intrinsic value, or, spiritual things. There is no doubt that religious Babylon
has held in her hand a golden cup─
treasures of truth, spiritual enrichments,
revivals, times of divine visitation, but she has also mixed in of her own
abominations, gross manifestations of the flesh, idolatry, carnality, spiritual
adultery, whatever filthiness can be mentioned, it is found in that cup, and
then it was given to men to drink, until all the earth has become drunken with
this awful mixture of flesh and spirit.
Again this is noted in Daniel 5:2-3, as
Belshazzar "commanded to bring the silver vessels which his father
Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple, (and they) drank wine in them." They
would take hold of the cup and place in it their own wine, and dishonor the true
by mixing it with the false. As the spirit of man is joined to the spirit of
the world, the spirit of selfaggrandizement, stroking their own ego, yet all
the time claim to be doing it for the Lord. It's Babylon─
CONFUSION─
taking
the things of intrinsic value, the songs of Zion, the quickened Word, the
precious blood of Christ, the anointing of the Spirit, and mixing it all up with
the frivolity of the flesh, equating loudness as the anointing, emotional
outbursts are thought to be spirit-movings, and it is amazing how many are ready
to drink from this cup─
to become drunken with spiritual fornication, party
time mixing of the holy with the profane. Yet the Word speaks loud and clear,
"You can not drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: you cannot
partake of the Lord's table, and the table of devils." (1 Cor. 10:21).
Participation in BABYLON'S CUP must end!
Though we have mentioned it before, it bears
repeating here. It borders on the brink of blasphemy, that when a child of God
is in conversation/prayer with the Almighty, King of the Universe, He who is
high and lifted up, with His Spirit overshadowing, that in the middle of their
prayer, without even a change of breath, suddenly they begin to talk to the
devil, commanding him to do this or that, as they bind the devil, etc. thus
turning their attention away from God, to do lip-service to the devil. In the
moment of intimacy with the Almighty is not the time to start having a
conversation with devils, for you cannot be GOD-CONSCIOUS and devil-conscious at
the same time. Such mixture is utter confusion, it is trying to drink of the
Lord's cup, and the cup of devils, at the same time. It is out of order, it is
a shame, a dishonoring of God. Certainly there is a proper casting out of
devils, taking authority over the adversary, etc. but it is NOT , while having
an intimate communion with God. Enough said on the subject.
Psalm 11:6, "Upon the wicked He shall rain
snares, FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion
of THEIR CUP." Ah, what bitter ingredients compose this cup. Though seemingly
negative, it has a very positive ending. Revelation 21:8, bears witness: "But
the fearful, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers,
and sorcerers, and idolaters and all liars, shall have their part in the lake
which burns with FIRE AND BRIMSTONE: which is the second death."
This is the portion of their cup─
fire and
brimstone. Brimstone (sulphur) defines the character of the fire. The Greek
word is "theion" from the same root as "theos" meaning "DIVINE." We find that
sulphur was considered as divine incense, because burning brimstone was regarded
as having power to purify, to ward off contagion, and used to fumigate,
consecrate to a deity. Thus it speaks of divine purification.
Ah, what a cup the wicked shall have to
drink─
BECAUSE GOD HAS PURPOSED TO PURIFY EVERY ONE. And in view of the stench
of their wickedness, He would do well to fumigate them, before He enfolds them
to Himself. It is a cup that also contains a tempest─
vitally needed to bring
man to the end of himself, and to cry out unto God. Remember Jonah, in
rebellion to the will of God, went off to sea, and the Lord caused "a mighty
tempest in the sea.. then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his
god." (Jonah 1:4-5). It took even more than a tempest to get Jonah to cry out,
but in due time he did, as he said, "out of the belly of hell cried I." (2:2).
And God heard his cry, and worked a deliverance for him. Praise His name!
"For IN THE HAND OF THE LORD there is a cup,
and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and He pours out of the same: but
the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out and drink."
(Psalm 75:8).
The point before us right now is that the cup
is ENTIRELY IN THE HAND, and AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE LORD. He remains personally
involved in all earth's judgments, chastisements, and purification of the
wicked, ALL is measured out in justice, to correct, to end all evil. It may
seem that ALL HELL HAS BROKEN LOOSE, but He is there. The cup is in His hand,
and that is why "If I make my bed in hell, behold, YOU ARE THERE." (Ps. 139:8).
How we need to remember that there is no place where God is not present. Paul
made this clear in his message on Mars' hill, saying, "If haply they might feel
after Him, and find Him, THOUGH HE BE NOT FAR FROM EVERY ONE OF US: FOR IN HIM
we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your poets have said,
For we are also His offspring." (Acts 17:27-28).
There is a cosmic energy that the world draws
from─
but they know not its Source. Certainly it is not the same as the
INDWELLING CHRIST that the believer draws from. Nevertheless, God is mindful of
men, even if they are not mindful of Him. He said that not even a sparrow shall
"fall on the ground without your Father." (Matt. 10:29). Not only is He
cognizant of the whole of His creation, but He is a daily participator in all
their way.
Ezekiel 23:33, speaks of the "Cup of
astonishment and desolation."
Astonishment─
Hebrew "shammah" meaning: RUIN,
from "shamen", TO STUN, devastate, stupefy. It speaks of being at a loss to
know what to do. A total bafflement. Lots of people drinking from this cup
these days─
it seems like a mass participation─
at their wit's end, without
any recourse on what to do. Daily they are stunned with the happenings, and all
their hopes for answers are demolished as their leaders also know not how to
contend with the ruin─
the collapse of morals, the futility of their many
programs to try and stabilize the nation and give a semblance of hope.
Furthermore, "Neither shall men give them the
cup of consolation to drink." (Jer. 16:7). There is a walking with God, when
you are truly led by the Spirit of God, when you will withhold the cup of
consolation from an individual, lest you interfere with God's processing in that
life. I dare say, the correction must be complete and final, and we do well not
to try and change a situation that God has set up for a disciplinary action.
The more we are led by His Spirit, the more we will know when to extend the cup
of consolation, and when to just stand by in prayer for grace for them while God
deepens His work in that individual, situation, etc.
In soulish sentiment and temperament we have
betimes tried to bail out a person from their processing. But now we are
reminded of the words of the wise man, "He that is surety (guarantor) for a
stranger shall suffer for it: and he that hates suretyship is sure." (Prov.
11:15). And again, "A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes
surety." (Prov. 17:18). To strike hands, in present day, to seal a promise with
a handshake. How we need to be careful about how we bail another out of a
trial, or we become liable for their debts, etc. Does this mean that we become
calloused and cold-hearted towards these people? NO! "A brother was born for
the day of adversity." Not to bail you out, but to squeeze down in with you to
help you bear it─
not escape it, but bear it through to overcoming. Methinks
it is easier to try and pray somebody out of a trial, than to stand by and help
them through it. But God is producing His overcomers!
How beautifully Jesus demonstrated that there
is a realm where we are not "need" conscious, but only conscious of the will of
God. Truly, the will of God is to be our only ministry, to do only those things
we see our Father do. Oh, to be fully led by the Spirit of God day by day.
"Thus says your Lord the Lord, and Your God
that pleads the cause of His people, Behold, I have taken out of your hand the
CUP OF TREMBLING, even the dregs of the cup of My fury; YOU SHALL NO MORE DRINK
IT AGAIN." (Isa. 51:22). Trembling─
literally, A REELING. Blow after blow has
come upon you, and before you can regain your balance you are hit again. Job
knew what it was to drink deeply from this cup. There came a messenger to him
saying the Sabeans came and killed some servants, and took away the oxen and
asses. "While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said.... And
while he was yet speaking, there came also another and said ... While he was yet
speaking, there came also another and said..." (Job 1:1418). It was report
after report of devastation─
the cup of trembling was certainly overflowing.
Just about the time you think you are starting to recover from a trial, there
comes a more severe happening─
until you are reeling─
the cup of trembling
often seems to be overflowing.
But don't forget, THE CUP REMAINS IN THE
LORD'S HAND, and "There has no temptation (testing) taken you but such as is
common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that
you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:13). HE knows how many blows you can
endure, and He sets the boundaries, saying, "Thus far, and no farther." We may
drink very deep from the cup of trembling, but the end remains secure in our
God.
"You shall no more drink it again." One thing
about the inworkings of God, they accomplish what He purposes, and do not have
to be repeated over and over again─
we are not on a wheel of nature that goes
round and round. When He has finished with the cup of trembling, THAT'S IT.
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jer. 29:11). God
foresees a time when the purgings, cleansing, subduing, judgment corrections,
times of astonishment and desolation all shall end, and there shall be a new cup
to drink─
then "I WILL TAKE THE CUP OF SALVATION, and call upon the name of the
Lord." (Ps. 116:13.)
All the intimate personal sharings
of the cup of Babylon, of fire and brimstone, of the energy forces of God set in
motion for correction─
it all gets replaced with THE CUP OF SALVATION─
as He
shares of His life, His joy, His peace, His righteousness. Indeed, then shall
we also declare with Psalmist, "THE LORD is the portion of my inheritance and OF
MY CUP." (Ps. 16:5). Praise His wonderful name.
The second time we read of the cup in the life
of Joseph is in Genesis 44. Joseph has long been recognized as a special type
of Christ, as well as the firstfruit company that blazes the trail into the
fulness of redemption. Joseph had a coat of many colors (pieces), signifying a
continual adding of piece to piece was needed to make his coat complete. Christ
had a seamless robe, because He was totally righteous, and nothing needed to be
added unto Him, "For God gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him." (John 3:34).
Then we note that both were sold for pieces of
silver─
Joseph for twenty pieces (Gen. 37:28); Jesus for thirty pieces (Matt.
27:9). The typology is beautiful. Redemption money for a male, under the
Mosaic law, would be half a shekel, or literally, 10 gerahs. (Ex. 30:13). In a
sense Joseph was sold for a double portion amount, body and soul; but Christ was
sold for a triple amount, to cover all three dimensions of body, soul, and
spirit.
We also note that both were sold by a Judas,
(The name Judas in the New Testament corresponds to the name Judah in the Old
Testament.) Joseph's path led to a prison, and Christ's path took Him to the
greater prisonhouse, the grave. It was the king's decree that liberated
Joseph, and it was God's resurrection power that raised Christ. Having viewed a
few contrasts and certain similarities, we now come to the SILVER CUP from which
he drank. Tremendous things are involved in drinking from this cup.
When the famine became severe in the land,
Joseph's brethren went down into Egypt to buy corn. And since Pharaoh had
appointed Joseph to be head over all Egypt, and especially over all the
storehouses, though they knew not that it was Joseph in charge, his brethren
came to him to buy corn. And having arranged a series of events, Joseph said to
his servant, "Put my cup, THE SILVER CUP, in the sack's mouth of the youngest."
(Gen. 44:2).
So, verse 12, "The cup was found in Benjamin's
sack." The name Benjamin means: son of the right hand. Thus, prophetically
speaking, those who are called to "sonship" will intimately share of His
redemption, will be drinking from the silver cup, as a part of the firstfruits
of the new creation species. "Every man in his own order."
(1 Cor. 15:23). We desire to DRINK FROM THE
SILVER CUP OF REDEMPTION, and so we say with the Psalmist, "I will take the cup
of salvation... the Lord is the portion of my cup." There is an intimate
relationship for those who are of THE ORDER OF THE SILVER CUP.
One more qualification is noted in this
record, Gen. 44:17, "The man in whose hand the cup is found, HE SHALL BE MY
SERVANT." Those who share the cup with Christ will lose all their grandiose
ambitions of building kingdoms for themselves, and they will bow low to worship
and to serve Him. Their life will be poured out─ giving all in servitude to
the Master's will. We read in Rev. 3:21, "To him that overcomes will I grant to
sit with Me in My throne." But when you have gone through all the processings
spoken of in this book, all the horses riding within, the many woes, the
trumpets, the vials, etc. DIVINE INWORKINGS PURPOSED TO BRING FORTH A TRUE
REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST IN US, you finally come to Rev. 22:3, "And His
servants shall serve Him." Many would like to drink from the silver cup, if it
means sharing a position of power and glory, but becoming a servant unto the
nations is a different matter. Furthermore, "No man takes this honor unto
himself, but he that is called of God. So also Christ glorified not Himself to
be made an high priest; but He that says unto Him, You are My Son, today have I
begotten You." (Heb. 5:4-5).
"Are you able to drink the cup?" They
answered, "We are able." Yet when the soldiers came on the scene, Peter was
quick to rise up with his sword, and Jesus said unto him, "Peter, put up your
sword into the sheath: THE CUP WHICH MY FATHER HAS GIVEN ME, shall I not drink
it?" (John 18:11). It was a cup of suffering and pouring out of His life─ and
He was ready to drink deeply of that cup─ a silver cup it was, but oh, what was
in that cup!
In Matt. 26:27, "He took the cup, AND GAVE
THANKS, and gave it to them, saying, DRINK all of it." When you drink from the
Lord's cup, and it happens to be filled with "The fellowship of His sufferings,
being made conformable unto His death," (Phil. 3:10), can you GIVE THANKS for
the cup?
How joyously we sing, "With a heart of
thanksgiving, I will bless You, O Lord." We shout and praise Him, drinking from
the cup of blessing. Then we drink again and find it to be the fellowship of
His suffering, and I do wonder if we are as quick to THANK HIM for the cup? Yet
Paul also wrote, "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of
the blood of Christ." (1 Cor. 10:16). Jesus was willing to share the cup, He
gave it to them, and said, "Drink all of it." Share with Me in a relationship
that is intimate and awesome─ but which also requires total surrender-"Not my
will, but Yours, be done." It is a giving up of our own self-life, that HIS LIFE
might fill us and then flow out of us to bless others. In drinking of the cup
He demonstrated total surrender to the Father's will, and doing so with a
THANKFUL HEART. "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in
Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thess. 5:18). And again, "Giving thanks always
FOR all things unto God..." (Eph. 5:20). IN, AND FOR all things─ taking the
cup and GIVING THANKS.
Yes, we'll weep, tears will flow like a river,
for, as the songwriter gave it, "He washed mine eyes with tears, that I might
see..." And yet deep in our heart we can praise, worship, and thank Him for the
blessed SILVER CUP. Jesus knew this, in His humanity He prayed, "O my Father,
if it be possible let this cup pass from Me:" (but in His Spirit He prayed on,)
"nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." (Matt. 26:39). We know all the
humanity side of things, but thank God, we are also partaking of the spirit
realm
We need not list again all the sufferings of
Joseph (the type), nor do we need to examine again all the sufferings of
Christ. But we would point out that if we drink of His cup, we will say with
Paul, "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is
behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake." (Col.
1:24). These sufferings are NOT HIS ATONEMENT SUFFERING, THAT IS FINISHED!
But as part of th e humiliation, suffering for righteousness sake, saints of all
ages can drink of this cup, and it is vitally related to God's purpose. We
suffer with Him, and we shall reign with Him. As God incorporated the night
with the light and called it a DAY, so He incorporates suffering with the joy
and glory of victory. The glories of redemption cause us to worship and praise
Him with a holy awe. But vitally linked to this victory was HIS suffering. And
as OVERCOMERS IN/WITH CHRIST we sup with Him, and sip of His cup of suffering,
as well as to drink deeply of His resurrection life.
O, blessed silver cup! The travail, the
suffering, the pain and agony will seem but as a dream of the night, for the joy
that comes in the morning as we share in the fulness of redemption, and His more
abundant life. Truly, "Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, has abolished death, and has
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Tim. 1:10). GOOD
NEWS─ as a cup of cold water to the thirsty, or of wine to the faint, so also
THE LORD is our SOURCE of exultation and refreshment, our true cup of blessing.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, the Merciful Father and the All-Comforting God, who comforts me in
every sorrow I have, so that I can comfort people who are in sorrow with the
comfort with which I am comforted of God. For just as my sufferings for Christ
are running over the cup, so THROUGH CHRIST MY COMFORT IS RUNNING OVER TOO." (2
Cor. 1:3-5, Williams translation).
How often we see our suffering running over
the cup─ overflowing with astonishment, with trembling, with fiery trials, etc.
and yet, praise God, drinking of HIS CUP OF SALVATION, we truly find that HIS
COMFORTS ALSO RUN OVER THE CUP! "You anoint my head with oil; and my cup runs
over." (Psalm 23:5). How precious is our Redeemer, and in the sharing of the
silver cup of redemption, unlimited grace is ours!
I have drunk from the cup of Babylon─
confusion surely did reign,
I've watched them mix the spirit with flesh and
the holy with the profane.
As a golden cup in the hand of God, with a
purpose to fulfill,
How strange is the place religion has found
within His sovereign will.
I've drunk from the cup of astonishment, and
brought to my own wit's end,
Yet learned that when self has been crucified, in
Him all joys transcend.
Fire and brimstone are found in the cup He
places within my hand,
Cleansing and purging until the blest day on His Mount
Zion we stand.
I have drunk from the cup of trembling, as
trials kept pressing in,
His waves and His billows swept over me, testing
my hope with chagrin.
I would drink from the cup of salvation, from
my Lord's own silver cup,
He's the portion that brings satisfaction, with Him I
daily would sup.
Though there's fellowship with His suffering,
conforming us to His death,
In the sharing of sacred communion, find He's our
life and breath.
I have drunk from His blest consolation,
comfort He freely has giv'n,
And found after judgment's correction that hell
was replaced by His heav'n.
Let us drink deep from our God's silver cup,
redemption purchased for thee,
And when the dark night of the soul is o'er,
we'll share in His jubilee.
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