From the Pastor:
Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a
table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head
with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and
mercy shall follow me
All the days of my
life;
And I will dwell
in the house of the LORD
Forever.
So far in this
Psalm David has taken us from green pastures with still waters to deep, dark,
and deadly valleys to now a banquet table overflowing with goodness and mercy
from the Lord. This Psalm truly does a remarkable job of taking the believer through
the experience of coming to our Great Shepherd in saving faith, navigating the
realities and difficulties of a fallen world, to worship and joy in the
presence of our Savior. Nothing from the believer’s experience seems to be left
out, and this is important for us to see and understand especially as we arrive
at the end of Psalm 23.
David himself had
gone through many dark valleys, and with the Lord’s guidance, come out the other
side worshipping God for His care and protection. Whether it was an encounter with
a lion or bear, his inspiring acceptance of Goliath of Gath’s challenge, his
struggles with King Saul, his fights with the Philistines, or even his own
personal and family struggles; David was all too familiar with dangers that
lurked in dark valleys. However, through these experiences David also knew very
well the exhilaration and joy that came after these times that drew him closer
to the Lord and led him to worship Him with overflowing joy and gratefulness.
David knew in every circumstance that it was God who had delivered him. He knew
that it was only by the Lord that he had any success, and Jesse’s baby boy was
sure to give God all the credit for His faithfulness to this simple shepherd
boy.
We do not know with
any full certainty which of the many events in David’s life might have led him
to pen this particular Psalm. Whether it was the encounter with the giant of
the Philistines or one of the many others, but undoubtedly, he has come through
and is enjoying a celebration even in the presence of those who had doubted, despised,
and rejected David. In this last section of the Psalm David is seated at a
banquet table, where it appears, he is the guest of honor. Seated there among
all the other guests, it is David to whom the host comes and anoints him with
oil, a sign of blessing and honor in eastern cultures. Much like Jesus would be
anointed with oil, not by the host of a feast mind you, but instead by a woman
who had experienced the saving grace of the Lord as was glad to not only anoint
his head with expensive oil, but his entire body all the way to his feet.
Likewise, David paints a picture of being so greatly honored and reminds fellow
believers that they have been anointed with God’s Holy Spirit, poured out by
the Master on us, as a sign of His love and grace. This anointing also covers
us from head to toe, and the sweet-smelling aroma of God’s Spirit will never
fade from His children.
There in front of David
is set a cup which he describes as overflowing. Picture the host now pouring
wine into a fine goblet. He is displaying his extravagance to his honored guest.
He wants his guest to know that all that he has is his and even more. No matter
how expensive the wine might be, it is nothing for the host to lavish it upon
his guests. Their cups overflow in abundance as a sign of the overflowing love
and care the Master has for each and every one us. There is no limit to the
love of our great Heavenly Father. What he pours out upon His children He does
so in great abundance. There is no vessel that can hold his mercy and grace.
There is no limit to His love.
David knows that
now, no matter what he may encounter, the goodness and mercy of the Lord will
be with him always. Even if there are more dark valleys, the Lord will be with
him. Even in his own errors and sins, the grace and kindness of the Lord are
close at hand. “All the days” of his life David knows the outpouring of the
Lord will be upon him, and that ultimately this will lead to David’s eternal
dwelling in the presence of Lord forever. Oh believer, take heart that our worship
here is but preparation for the eternal worship we will enjoy in the presence
of the Lord forever. Yet, non-believer, realize that rejecting the Good
Shepherd will leave you unprotected, uncovered, empty-handed on that last day.
There will be no joy everlasting, but instead only pain and sorrow. Turn now to
the Great Shepherd. Come to Christ and know the fullness of forgiveness. Know
the greatness of His overflowing love and mercy. Know that one day we will
dwell in houses not made by human hands, but in a place prepared by God the
Father for the inheritance of His children. And there we will live forever and
ever without end.
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