What does "call on the name of the LORD" signify in Psalm 116:13? Seeing the Phrase in Its Immediate Setting Psalm 116:13 – “I will lift the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.” • The psalmist has just recounted deliverance from death (vv. 3–8). • “Cup of salvation” pictures a drink offering poured out in thanksgiving (cf. Leviticus 7:11-15). • In the same breath, he pledges to “call on the name of the LORD,” weaving praise and prayer into one act of worship. What “Call on the Name” Literally Conveys • “Call” (Heb. qārāʼ) ― to cry out, proclaim, or summon. • “Name” (shem) ― more than a label; it represents God’s revealed character and authority (Exodus 34:5-7). • Together the phrase means: – Vocal, intentional prayer to the covenant-keeping God. – Public acknowledgment that rescue came from Him alone. – An appeal based on who He is—faithful, merciful, powerful. Layers of Meaning Woven into the Phrase 1. Petition • Genesis 4:26 – people “began to call upon the name of the LORD,” seeking help amid growing wickedness. 2. Worship & Thanksgiving • Psalm 116 fits here: after deliverance, the psalmist offers a thank-offering and calls on the LORD again. 3. Proclamation • 1 Kings 18:24 – Elijah invites Israel to “call on the name of your god,” setting up a showdown that will reveal the true God. 4. Salvation Appeal • Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13 – “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved,” underscoring the phrase as the doorway to redemption. Why the Psalmist Vows to Keep Calling • Gratitude: calling is his fitting response to grace already received (Psalm 116:1-2). • Dependence: rescue today stirs confidence for tomorrow’s trials (v. 2). • Witness: his public vows in the temple courts (vv. 14, 18-19) encourage others to trust the LORD. Key Takeaways for Us • Prayer is not a last resort but an honored first response; we, too, “lift the cup” of gratitude and trust. • To “call on His name” is to ground every request in God’s revealed character—holy, righteous, compassionate. • The phrase invites public allegiance: confessing Christ openly (Matthew 10:32), praising Him before others (Hebrews 13:15). • The same promise of deliverance stands: “Whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Romans 10:13). |
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