JOYFULLY SPILLED OUT
But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I
am gladG5463 and rejoiceG4796 with all of you. So you too should be gladG5463 and rejoiceG4796
with me.
Philippians 2:17-18
(What is a drink offering?) What we do know is that the pouring out of a drink offering is a metaphor for the blood Jesus spilled on the cross. Jesus spoke to this directly in Luke 22:20 when He instituted the New Covenant. He picked up a cup of wine and said, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” Jesus’ sacrifice fulfilled the need of a drink offering, His blood literally pouring out when the soldier pierced His side with a spear (John 19:34). See the article at https://www.gotquestions.org/drink-offering.html
2:17 The apostle uses a very beautiful illustration to describe the service of the Philippians and of himself. He borrows the picture from the common practice among both Jews and pagans of pouring out a drink offering or libation over a sacrifice as it was being offered. He speaks of the Philippians as the offerers. Their faith is the sacrifice. Paul himself is the drink offering. He would be happy to be poured out in martyrdom on the sacrifice and service of their faith. (55)
MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary
2:17, 18 I . . . rejoice . . . you also . . . rejoice. An attitude of mutual joy ought to accompany any sacrificial Christian service (see notes on 1:4, 18, 26; cf. 2 Cor. 7:4; Col. 1:24; 1 Thess. 3:9). (56)
MacArthur Study Bible
The Apostle Paul who had been a persecutor of Christians, completely turned around after his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-19). After his conversion to Christianity, Paul poured his entire being into sharing the Good News about Jesus, teaching new converts, and encouraging the church through letters. Paul was being poured out continually, but in this verse may have been referring to the prospect of martyrdom. The drink offering was completely “spilled out” upon the sacrifice on the altar. How could Paul’s being completely poured out—martyred—be an occasion for gladness and rejoicing? Martyr can also be translated “witness”. Dying because of service to God is certainly a powerful witness of confidence in Jesus. As John MacArthur pointed out, we should celebrate sacrificial service. The word for “rejoice” in the Greek could be translated “to congratulate”. We should congratulate each other for being faithful in our service to the Lord. Paul was willing to serve God and his brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what the cost. As the article on www.gotquestions.org pointed out, Jesus’s blood could be considered a drink offering poured out on His sacrifice of Himself as the final sacrificial Lamb to satisfy the penalty for our sin.
How far are you willing to go in serving God? Not all are called to vocational ministry, but all believers are ministers. Are you willing to sacrifice time normally spent in leisure pursuits to be Jesus with skin on to help a neighbor? Are you willing to give up what you want to do to follow God’s purpose for you? God’s choice is always the better choice but may not feel that way initially.
Father, thank You for sending Your own Son as a sacrifice in our place. Help us to be willing and infuse us with Your strength to live our lives being spilled out and used up for Your glory.
Follow the link below to listen to a beautiful song about sacrifice, the sacrifice of the woman who broke the vessel to anoint Jesus for burial and the sacrifice of Jesus who poured out Himself on the cross to bring us new life with Him forever. Allison Durham Spear and the Gaither Homecoming Friends singing “Broken and Spilled Out.”