Psalm 23:5 The Lord Anoints Me

The Lord is my Shepherd, and He gives me blessings upon blessings! Three of these blessings are noted in verse 5 of Psalm 23. Please read this verse now (and the rest of the Psalm, if you have not already memorized it).

The first blessing for which David wants to praise God is the blessing of security. He praises his Shepherd for preparing a table for him “in the presence of my enemies.” This was not a typical military strategy, as you can imagine. When a soldier is in the presence of enemies, he would not stop to eat a meal. If it was necessary to imbibe sustenance while an enemy was near, the soldier would hastily grab a handful and then return to being ready for battle. But God doesn’t just provide a quick granola bar or bag of trail-mix for us to guzzle down—He prepares a table for us!

The image is that of a servant laying down the finest silk tablecloth, and placing upon it the finest china, with every piece in just the right position. We are then invited to take our seats, lay down our guard and enjoy a five course meal that is so filling we will need to take a nap afterwards. And all of this fine dining is taking place while our enemies are standing nearby with their weapons drawn and ready to strike!

The confidence pictured here may sound arrogant, but it is not prideful arrogance—it is confidence in the Lord! I am so sure of God’s protection from my enemies, that I can rest in Him, even when they are about to attack.

King David may have written this literally, for he had many enemies that sent ambassadors to him and he was under constant threat of assassination and other perils. You and I may not be kings of great nations, but we have enemies all the same. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are at enmity with the world. Satan and his minions could attack us at any moment. Especially in our current climate, we face dangers of losing our jobs, our homes, our reputations, and our freedoms if we stand up boldly for the cause of Christ. These are dangerous days that we live in, and they are only likely to get worse!

Yet, in the midst of the chaos and antagonism that Christians face, God provides a table at which we can dine and rest. Even when danger is at our doorstep, we can trust in God. He is our security.

Secondly, God will “anoint my head with oil.” This was a typical blessing in many eastern cultures, and a pleasant aroma would come from this anointing when you were a guest in someone’s home. But anointing with oil was also performed for the priests who would serve the Lord in His holy temple, and it was done symbolically when a man was anointed king over Israel. I think that all of these aspects are in play here: God not only provides security for us, He anoints us with a blessing, as priests and kings in His heavenly Kingdom.

He has taken us from out of the pit and anointed us as holy unto the Lord. The next time that someone tries to attack you with slander or put-downs, remember that you are anointed by the Heavenly One for His heavenly purposes.

Finally, “my cup overflows.” God doesn’t just give us what we need; He fills us to overflowing! If we would but focus our attention on the Good Shepherd, He would provide more than we could ever hope to ask! My Shepherd provides security, anointing, and an abundance of blessings that I could never hope to name. Surely, my cup overflows!