You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
~Psalm 23:5-6
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God’s goodness is that disposition which causes him actively to seek the wellbeing of his creature. His mercy is that quality that inclines him to relieve misery. Because he had seen so very much of God’s faithful care in every conceivable situation, David knew he could count on God’s goodness and mercy every step of the way.
Ellsworth, R. (2006). Opening up Psalms (51–52). Leominster: Day One Publications.
Anointing with oil originated in Egypt and then assimilated to the Greeks and Romans then other nations. Olive oil was used for anointing, not only as a part of ceremony in the coronation of kings, but also at the installation of High Priest and as a hospitality toward guests. Anointing a guest was a sign of hospitality and courtesy; an act to say the guest would be taken care of, provided for, and protected within the confines of the home and their stay therein.
For those in Christ Jesus we are guests at God’s table.
Perhaps today you would say, “I could use a cup that is overflowing, an anointing of my head with the oil of protection, the surely goodness portion of this Psalm.” It is there for the taking my friends! No matter the circumstances without or within our beings the promises and principles of Psalm 23 persist.
This banqueting table is prepared for those crushed in spirit and of a humble and contrite heart who tremble at God’s word:
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
~Psalm 34:18
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
~Isaiah 57:15
All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the LORD. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.
~Isaiah 66:2
Yesterday I celebrated my 31st birthday. Sweet cards that brought tears to my eyes and needed encouragement to my soul came in from my mom and grandmother. Ron drew me a card (one of my favorite things he does) and Emily signed her name all by herself.
Well wishes and words of affirmation were written on my Facebook wall. These kindnesses were gifts from family and friends, many of whom I have not seen in decades. (When you are 31 you can start saying things like, “I haven’t seen them in decades.”) One such gift was a little video posted to my Facebook wall. I want to share this with you today as you receive the anointing of oil alongside the overflowing cup of God’s goodness. Surely His goodness will follow all the days of my life…
Click here to watch the video.
[…] David, another disciple was being made to walk in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Surely goodness and mercy had followed a young man unaware of the future stretching out before […]