Verse 5: You Prepare A Table Before Me In The Presence Of My Enemies, You Anoint My Head With Oil, My Cup Overflows
You Prepare A Table Before Me
The antecedent of “You” is “Yahweh,” but it no longer seems to be Yahweh-Shepherd, since a shepherd does not prepare a table for his sheep. The image seems to have changed to that of a host. This implies that the Psalmist is Yahweh’s honored guest.
There is a series of two prepositional phrases used to indicate the “location” of the table’s preparation.
The first one is “before me” which indicates that the table prepared in the presence of the Psalmist.
The second prepositional phrase is “in the presence of my enemies.” Not only is the table prepared before him, but what is more amazing is that it is also prepared in the presence of the Psalmist’s enemies.
What is involved in a host’s preparing a table?
The Hebrew word for table is “shulhan.” It describes the physical table itself. More frequently it describes the table spread with food. Here the emphasis is on the meal rather than on the table itself. This is true of the table of shewbread also. From this the metaphorical use derives easily God’s provision for man’s needs. An important use of the word is to evoke the picture of the fellowship shared by those seated around the table.
Why do we invite friends over to our homes for dinner? Think about that for a moment. It is time to enjoy good food, but that is not the real reason. We invite people to our homes to fellowship with them. The meal provides the opportunity. If you have just met someone, what a way to get to know him or her. You go all out to prepare a feast and you and your guest enjoy to the opportunity to fellowship. It makes the guest feel special because you took the time and effort to have him or her over to your house for dinner.
The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 78:19 had this to say: “Then they spoke against God; they said, "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? This was written about the Israelites who roamed the wilderness for 40 years. Did God provide for them? Yes He did. I found out what the logistics would have been for provision for the wandering Israelites. It is amazing. If you would like a copy of it, send me an email requesting the Logistics of the Exodus.
Lastly, the word is used to describe the altar of sacrifice. To share in a god’s table was an act of worship. (Isaiah 65:11)(1 Corinthians 10:21)
What is signified by Yahweh’s preparing a table for the Psalmist?
Specifically, how is this accomplished?
In what sense is it true that Yahweh is Host and the Psalmist His honored guest?
What are the wider implications of this Host-Guest relationship?
In thinking about this statement it is well to bear in mind that the sheep are approaching the high mountain country of the summer ranges. These are known as alp lands or table lands.
The high plateau of the sheep ranges are always referred to as “mesa” the Spanish word for “tables”. It may be seen that David referred to as a table was actually the entire high summer range. Though this “mesa” may have been remote and hard to reach, the energetic and aggressive sheep owner takes the time and trouble to ready them for the arrival of his flocks.
Early in the season, even before all the snow has been melted by spring sunshine, he will go ahead and make preliminary survey trips into this rough, wild country. He will look over with great care, keeping ever in mind its best use for his flock during the coming season.
Then just before the sheep arrive he will make another expedition or two to prepare the tableland for them. He takes along a supply of salt and minerals to be distributed over the range at strategic spots for the benefit of the sheep during the summer. The intelligent, careful manager will also decide well ahead of time where his camps will be located so the sheep have the best bed grounds. He goes over the range carefully to determine how vigorous the grass and upland vegetation is. At this time he decides whether some glades and basins can be used only lightly where as other slopes and meadows may be grazed more heavily. He will check to see if there are poisonous weeds appearing, and if so, he will plan his grazing program to avoid them, or take drastic steps to eradicate them.
The parallel in the Christian life is clear. Like sheep, and especially lambs, we somehow feel that we have to try everything that comes our way. We have to taste this thing and that, sampling everything just to see what it’s like. We may very well know that some things are deadly. They can do us no good. They can be most destructive. Still somehow we give them a whirl anyway.
To forestall our getting into grief of this sort, we need to remember our Master has been there ahead of us coping with every situation, which would otherwise undo us. A classic example of this was the incident when Jesus warned Peter that Satan desired to tempt him and sift him like wheat. But Christ pointed out that He had prayed that Peter’s faith might not fail during the desperate difficulty he would encounter. And so it is even today. Our great Good Shepherd is going ahead of us in every situation, anticipating what danger we may encounter, and praying for us that in it we might not succumb.
Another task the attentive shepherd takes on in the summer is to keep an eye out for predators.
He will look for signs of wolves, coyotes, cougars and bears. If these raid or molest the sheep he will have to hunt them down or go to great pains to trap them so that his flock can rest in peace.
Often what actually happens is that these crafty ones are up on the rimrock watching every movement the sheep make, hoping for a chance to make a swift, sneaking attack that will stampede the sheep. Then one or other of the flock is bound to fall easy prey to the attacker’s fierce teeth and claws. Only the alertness of the sheepman who tends his flock on the tableland in full view of possible enemies can prevent them from falling prey to attack. It is only his preparations for such an eventuality that can possible save the sheep from being slaughtered and panicked by their predators.
I can’t remember when or on what TV channel I saw this, but when a herd of elephants is attacked by a lion or other animal, the first thing they do is to get the baby elephants huddled together in the middle of the adults and then form a circle around them to protect them from the attack.
Another time I was watching a large flock of Canadian geese with young ones. Even without young ones, I noticed that all around where the others were feeding, it like there were posted sentries watching. They were on the alert for a possible attack. A lot of other animals do this also.
We have a Shepherd who knows our enemy and is well aware of his attempts to get to us. If we will listen to Him, He will tell what the devil is up to and how to avoid his attacks. Since God knows everything, even what the devil is up to, it’s like have a spy in the middle of the enemy’s camp. If we will listen to the Holy Spirit, He will warn us so we can avoid the trap that is set for us.
Again we are given a sublime picture of our Savior who knows every wile, every trick, every treachery of our enemy Satan and his companions. Always we are in danger of attack. Scripture refers to him as “a roaring lion” who goes about seeking whom he may devour. (I Peter 5:8) It is interesting to watch a group of lions go after a herd of animals. They look for the stragglers, the young one and the sickly ones. These make easy prey. But they will attack a strong animal.
At all times we would be wise to walk a little closer to Christ. This is one sure place of safety.
It was always the distant sheep, the roamers, and the wanderers, which were picked off by the predators in an unsuspecting moment. Some sheep are utterly dumb with fear under attack; they will not even give a plaintive bleat before their blood is spilled.
The same is true of Christians. Many of us get into deep difficulty beyond ourselves; we are stricken dumb with apprehension, unable even to call or cry out for help; we just crumble under our adversary’s attack.
But Christ is too concerned about us to allow this to happen. Our Shepherd wants to forestall such a calamity. He wants our sojourn to be in peace. Our Lord wants our mountaintop times to be tranquil interludes. And they will be if we just have the common sense to stay near Him where He can protect us. Read His Word each day. Spend some time talking to Him. We should give Him opportunity to converse with us by His Spirit as we contemplate His life and work for us as our Shepherd.
There is another chore, which the sheepman takes care of on the tableland. He clears out the water holes, springs and drinking places for his flock. He has to clean out the accumulated debris of leaves, twigs, stones and soil that may have fallen into the water source during the autumn and winter. He may need to repair small earth dams he has made to hold water. He will open the springs that may have become overgrown with grass and brush and weeds. It is all his work, his preparation of the table for his own sheep in summer.
The parallel in the Christian life is that Christ, our great Good Shepherd has Himself already gone before us into every situation and every extremity that we might encounter. We are told emphatically that He was tempted in all points like as we are. (Hebrews 4:14-15) We know He entered full and completely and very intimately into life of men upon this earth. He has known our sufferings, experienced our sorrows, and endured our struggles in this life. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. (Isaiah 53) Because of this He “understands” us, He has totally “identified Himself with humanity. He has, therefore, a care and compassion for us beyond our ability to grasp.
No wonder He makes every possible provision to insure that when have to cope with Satan, sin, or self, the contest will not be one-sided. Rather, we can be sure He has been in that situation before; He is in it now again with us and because of this the prospects of our preservation are excellent. It is this attitude of rest in Him, of confidence in His care, of relaxation as we realize His presence in the picture that can make the Christian’s life one of calm and quiet confidence.
The Christian walk can thus become a mountaintop experience; a tableland trip, simply because we are in the care and control of Christ who has been over all this territory before us and prepared the “table” for us in plain view of our enemies who would demoralize and destroy us if they could.
It is encouraging to know that just as in any other aspect of life where there are lights and shadows, so in the Christian life there are valleys and mountaintops. Too many people assume that once one becomes a Christian, automatically life becomes a glorious garden of delight. We think that the Lord has promised us a rose garden. This is simply not the case. It may well become a garden of sorrow just as our Savior went through the garden of Gethsemane.
As was pointed out previously, you do not have mountains without valleys, and even on the mountaintop there can be some tough experiences. Just because the shepherd has gone ahead and made every possible provision for the safety and welfare of his sheep while they are on the summer range does not mean they will not have problems there.
Predators can still attack; poisonous weeds can still grow; storms and gales can still come swirling up over the peaks; and a dozen other hazards can haunt the high country. Yet, in His care and concern for us Christ still insures that we will have some gladness with our sadness; some delightful days as well as dark days; some sunshine as well as shadows. It is not always apparent to us what tremendous personal cost it has been for Christ to prepare the table for His own.
Just as the lonely, personal privation of the sheepman who prepares the summer range for his flock entails a sacrifice, so the lonely agony of Gethsemane, of Pilate’s hall, of Calvary, have cost my Master much.
When I come to the Lord’s Table and partake of the communion service, which is a feast of thanksgiving for His love and care, do I fully appreciate what it has cost Him to prepare this table for me?
Here we commemorate the greatest and deepest demonstration of “true love” the world has ever known.
For God looked down upon sorrow, struggling, sinning humanity and was moved with compassion for the contrary, sheep-like creatures He had made. In spite of the tremendous personal cost it would entail to Himself to deliver them from their dilemma, He chose deliberately to descend and live among them that He might deliver them. This meant laying aside His splendor, His position, and His prerogatives as the perfect and faultless One. He knew He would be exposed to terrible privation, to ridicule, to false accusations, to rumors, gossip and malicious charges that branded Him as a glutton, drunkard, friend of sinners and even an imposter.
It entailed losing His reputation.
It would involve physical suffering, mental anguish and spiritual agony.
In short, His coming to earth as the Christ, as Jesus of Nazareth, was a straightforward case of utter self-sacrifice that culminated in the cross of Calvary.
The laid-down life, the poured-out blood were the supreme symbols of total selflessness.
This was love.
This was God.
This was divinity in action, delivering men from their own utter selfishness, their own stupidity; their own suicidal instincts as lost sheep unable t help themselves. In all of this there is an amazing mystery. No man will ever be able fully to fathom its implications. It is bound up inexorably with the concept of God’s divine love of self-sacrifice, which is so foreign to most of us who are self-centered.
At best we can only grasp feebly the incredible concept of a perfect person, a sinless one being willing actually to be made sin that we who are so full of faults, selfish self assertion and suspicion might be set free form sin and self to live a new, free, fresh, abundant life of righteousness.
Jesus told us Himself, that He had come that we might have life and have it more abundantly.
Just as the sheepman is thrilled beyond words to see his sheep thriving on the high, rich summer range, so my Shepherd is immensely pleased then He sees me flourish on the tablelands of a noble, lofty life that He has made possible for me. Part of the mystery and wonder of Calvary, of Gods’ love to us in Christ, is bound up too with deep desire of His heart to have me live on a higher plane. He longs to see me living above the mundane level of common humanity.
He is so pleased when I walk in the ways of holiness, of selflessness, of serene contentment in His care, aware of His presence and enjoying the intimacy of His companionship.
To live thus is to live richly.
To walk here is to walk with quiet assurance.
To feed here is to be replete with good things.
To find this tableland is to have found something of my Shepherd’s love for me.
Several years ago I was sitting in church when the pastor came to the pulpit and said that he was going to preach a sermon that he had preached some time ago. When he started, I knew exactly what he was going to talk about, so I closed my Bible and notebook. After receiving this revelation I now keep my notebook open.
As he was preaching, I don’t remember what he said, but I began to receive revelation about the table in this psalm.
Here is what that was revealed to me.
Image a long table, and this table is covered with a purple tablecloth with gold fringe. At the end of the table are two large purple chairs with gold trim.
On this table are the following items each with its symbolic meaning:
The first item is a large menorah, holding seven candles that are lit. This represents Jesus as the Light of the World.
There is a big picture of milk representing the sincere milk of the Word in Hebrews
There is also a huge piece of meat representing the strong meat of the Word in Hebrews
The next item is a large loaf of bread, representing Jesus as the Bread of Life.
On this table is also a large vial of oil, representing the Holy Spirit; the oil of joy, the oil of gladness, the oil of healing, the anointing.
There are nine large bowls overflowing with different kinds of fruit, each one representing the nine fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.
We will also find on this table a large pitcher of water, presenting the Word of God.
Next we find a gold cup of wine and a loaf of broken bread, representing the Lord’s Supper, our communion with Him.
The Lord is standing behind the large purple chair reserved for His guest, waiting to seat you at His table. He bids each one of us to come and partake of His table.
What do you need from Him today?
You can find what you need by just coming to His table.
In the Presence of My Enemies
Who are the Psalmist’s “enemies?”
Why should the Psalmist have enemies?
What is meant by Yahweh’s preparing a table for the Psalmist in the presence of his enemies?
Why does the Psalmist suggest that Yahweh would do such a thing?
I like what Webster’s Dictionary says about an enemy:
An enemy is person who hates, opposes, or fosters harmful designs against another.
An adversary, foe, or hater.
It can refer to an individual opponent or to a hostile force, either a nation or an army.
There are several Hebrew words are rendered “enemy” in the Old Testament:
“Tsar” means an “adversary, foe, oppressor, or enemy.” It comes from the verb “tsarar”, which means “to show hostility toward.”
An “’ohev” is “one who is hostile, an enemy or foe.”
The term “sane’” means, “one who hates.”
“Zur” is a “stranger, foreigner, or alien.”
One Greek term, “echthros”, is used for each of the Hebrew words in the New Testament. Its basic definition is simply “enemy.”
Enemy is also used to speak of one’s personal foes. This is especially true in the Psalms. David asked for help against his enemies on a number of occasions (Psalm 25:2; Psalm 25:19). Other poets in the Psalter often sought this same protection (Psalm 119:84; Psalm 119:86).
Satan is also called “the enemy” (1 Tim. 5:14-15). He has revealed himself as such throughout history by seeking to hurt men and women, leading them away from God.
The greatest and final enemy is death itself (1 Cor. 15:24). It is feared by all because of its finality and unknown nature. But the Bible teaches that Jesus has “abolished” death once for all (2 Tim. 1:10). Those who have trusted Christ for the salvation He freely gives need not fear death.
If you are a Christian, you have enemies. Satan hates you, opposes you, and fosters harmful designs against you. All the demons in hell hate you. The world system hates you.
People that hate you are just being used by Satan and his demons to express their hatred for you. Remember that in 2 Corinthians 10 that is says we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against, powers, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. They truly don’t know what is going on. James says that to love this world is to become and enemy of God.
Yet in the midst of our enemies surrounding us, God prepares a table before us in their presence.
Can you imagine a table like one I described above being prepared, this huge spread, and you are seated with the Lord at the table, and all around you your enemies are standing off in the distance watching this?
I wonder what they would be thinking! It probably wouldn’t be nice.
You Anoint My Head With Oil
This seems to contain another action of Yahweh. Not only does Yahweh prepare a table, but He also has anointed the Psalmist’s head with oil.“ Prepares” is in the present tense, whereas “hast anointed” is in the present perfect.
What is meant by “anointed?”
It describes the procedure of rubbing or smearing a person or thing, usually with oil, for the purpose of healing, setting apart, or embalming.
A person can anoint himself, be anointed, or anoint another person or thing.
What is oil?
Generally, it is olive oil whether pure or prepared for various uses such as perfume or ointment.
Oil is one of the symbols for the Anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Oil was used in a variety of ways in biblical times in the Ancient Near East.
Most often oil was use in the preparation of food, taking the place of animal fat. Oil was used with meal in the preparation of cakes, with honey, flour, and wine. (Numbers 11:8)(1 Kings 17:12-16)(Ezekiel 16:13)(Leviticus 2:1-4)(Revelation 6:6)
Oil was used as fuel for lamps, both in homes and in the Tabernacle and Temple. ((Matthew 25:3)(Exodus 25:6)
Oil was extensively used in religious ceremonies. The morning and evening sacrifices required, in addition to the lambs, a tenth of measure of fine flour and fourth of a hin of beaten oil. This oil, called “beaten oil”, was lighter and considered the best oil. Other cereal offering also required oil.
Oil was used during the offerings of purification from leprosy.
In the New Testament, oil was used to anoint a body in preparation for burial. (Matthew 26:12)
Since olive trees were found in abundance in Palestine, olive oil was also used as a commodity of trade. (1 Kings 5:11)(Ezekiel 27:17)
Oil was regarded as a symbol of honor, while virtue was compared to perfumed oil. (Song of Solomon 1:3)(Ecclesiastes 7:1)
The abundance of oil was a demonstration of blessing and prosperity. (Job 29:6)(Joel 2:24)
However, as a symbol of affluence, oil was also associated with the arrogance of the rich.
(Hebrew: “valley of oil”; KJV: “fat valley,” Isaiah 28:1, 4)
Oil was a symbol of joy and gladness (Psalm 45:7), and in time of sorrow, anointing with oil was not practiced. (2Samuel 14:2)
Several persons in the Old Testament we anointed with oil:
Kings: (1 Samuel 10:1)(1 Samuel 16:13)
Priests: (Leviticus 8:30)
Prophets: (1 Kings 19:16)
Some objects were also anointed in dedication to God; the tabernacle, and all its furnishings (Exodus 40:9-11); the shields of soldiers (2 Samuel 1:21; Isaiah 21:5); altars (Leviticus 8:10-11), and pillars (Genesis 35:14)
As medicine, oil or ointment was used in the treatment of wounds (Isaiah 1:6)(Luke 10:34).
Oil was used cosmetically as protection against the scorching sun or the dryness of the desert. (Ruth 3:3)(Ecclesiastes 9:8)
Why does Yahweh “anoint?”
The Hebrew word “mashach (noun, messiah) and the Greek verb “chrio (noun, christos) are translated “to anoint.”
From ancient times the priests and kings were ceremonially anointed as a sign of God’s power upon them. The act was imbued with an element of awe. This was done by pouring a horned filled with oil over the person’s head. Psalm 133 gives a picture of this. This was not like we do today. We usually put a dab of oil on our finger and touch the person’s forehead. The whole horn of oil is literally poured out on the person's head.
Even today we talk about people being “anointed by God “ for ministry. God anoints every Christian for a specific purpose. The gifts of Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4 require an anointing by the Lord.
Why does He “anoint the head with oil?
Literally the head is the upper most part of the body considered to be the seat of life, but not the intellect and figuratively for first, top, or chief.
There are various uses of the word “head” that we will not get into. Check it out for yourself.
Because the head was the seat of life, value was placed on it. Injury to it was a chief form of defeating an enemy. Defeated warriors were often beheaded.
Conversely, blessing comes upon the head and therefore hands are laid on it. (Genesis 48:17; 49:26)
Anointing the head with oil symbolized prosperity and joy. (Psalm 23:5; Hebrews 1:9)
In the service of ordination of priests and dedication of priestly service, the head of the high priest was anointed with oil. (Exodus 29:7; Leviticus 16:32)
It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing an invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His sheep with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs, in heavenly fellowship with Him.
Here now the sheep are in a sublime setting on the high meadows; where there are clear running springs; where the forage is fresh and tender, where here is the intimate close contact with the shepherd; suddenly we find “a fly in the ointment,” so to speak. For in the terminology of the sheepman, “summertime is fly time.”
By this, reference is made to the hordes of insects that emerge with the advent of warm weather.
Only those people who have kept livestock or studied wildlife habits are aware of the serious problems for animal presented by insects in the summer.
To name a few parasites that trouble stock and make their lives a misery:
warble flies
bot flies
heel flies
nose (nasal) flies
deer flies
black flies
mosquitoes
gnats
Their attacks on animals can readily turn the golden summer months into a time of torture for sheep and drive them almost to distraction.
Sheep are especially troubled by the nose fly, or nasal fly. These flies buzz about the sheep’s head, attempting to deposit their eggs on the damp, mucous membranes of the sheep’s nose. It they are successful the eggs will hatch in a few days to form small, slender, worm-like larvae.
They work their way to the nasal passages into the sheep’s head; they burrow into the flesh and there set up an intense irritation accompanied by severe inflammation.
For relief from this agonizing annoyance sheep will deliberately beat their heads against trees, rocks, posts, or brush. They will rub them in the soil and thrash around against woody growth.
In extreme cases of intense infestation a sheep may even kill itself in a frenzied endeavor to gain relief from the aggravation. Often advanced stages of infection from these flies will lead to blindness.
Because of all this, when the nose flies hover around the flock, some of the sheep become frantic with fear and panic in their attempt to escape their tormentors. They will stamp their feet erratically and flee from place to place in the pasture trying desperately to elude the flies. Some may run so much they will drop from sheer exhaustion. Others may toss their heads up and down for hours. They will hide in any bush or woodland that offers shelter. On some occasions they may refuse to graze in the open at all.
All this excitement and distraction has a devastating effect on the entire flock. Ewes and lambs rapidly lose condition and begin to drop in weight. Ewes will go off milking and their lambs will stop growing gainfully. Some sheep will be injured in their headlong rushes of panic. Others may be blinded. Some may even be killed outright.
Only the strictest attention to the behavior of the sheep by the shepherd can forestall the difficulties of “fly time.” At the very first sign of flies among the flock he will apply an antidote to their heads.
What an incredible transformation this makes among the sheep. Once the oil had been applied to the sheep’s head there is an immediate change in behavior. Gone is the aggravation, gone the frenzy; gone the irritability and the restlessness. Instead the sheep will start to feed quietly again, and soon lie down in peaceful contentment.
This is the exact picture of irritations in our own lives. How easy it is for there to be a fly in the ointment of even our most lofty spiritual experience. So often it is the small, petty annoyances that ruin our repose. It is the nagging distractions that become burning issues that can well nigh drive us round the bend or up the wall. At times some tiny, tantalizing thing torments us to the point where we feel we are just beating our brains out.
Our behavior as a child of God degenerates to a most disgraceful sort of frustrated tirade.
I was in a grocery store one time at the check line and there was this child, I would say about two years standing with his mother just throwing a temper tantrum. He was yelling, crying, and demanding that this mother get him this particular thing he wanted. As I was watching this, the Lord spoke to me and said this is how some of my children act, including me. If you think about it for a moment, we do. We throw a fit with the Lord because He won’t give us what we want or we don’t get out own way. How do react when someone irritates us?
There was an individual I worked with several years that I could not stand to be around. It seemed like his purpose in life was to irritate me. He would do things, on purpose, that would irritate the sap out of me. I would go into the back of the shipping container where I was working and tell the Lord that I really felt like taking my fist and shoving it down his throat. It wasn’t until I read this section about the irriations of the sheep that he was my “nasal fly.” That’s what I started calling him to myself. Everytime I saw him, I would just start laughing to myself. Over a period of time, I noticed that no matter what he did, my irritation with him was decreasing. It got to the point where no matter what he did; it did not irritate me like it use to.
Just as with the sheep there must be continuous and renewed application of oil to forestall the “flies” in our lives, there must be a continuous anointing of God’s gracious Spirit to counteract the ever-present aggravations of personality conflicts. It is a process that has to be repeated.
There are those who contend that in the Christian life one need only have a single, initial anointing of God’s Spirit. Yet the frustrations of daily dilemmas demonstrate that one must have Him come continuously to the troubled mind and heart to counteract the attacks of one’s tormentors. It is both a logical and legitimate desire for us to have the daily anointing of God’s gracious Spirit upon our minds.
God alone can form in us the mind of Christ. The Holy Spirit alone can give to us the attitudes of Christ. He alone makes it possible for us to respond to aggravations and annoyances with quietness and calmness. When people or circumstances or events beyond our control tend to “bug” us, it is possible to be content and serene when these “outside” forces are counteracted by the presence of God’s Spirit. It is something that is not going to happen overnight. It takes a conscious awareness of what is going on and then making a conscious decision to respond and not react.
Several years ago I was driving on the interstate and somebody cut right in front of me and when he did I did not bless him. The Lord got on me about this and told me that I needed to change from reacting in anger to blessing people. My question was to Him, How do you do it? He gave me a passage of Scripture from Numbers 6:24-26 and I was to use that to bless others on the road. Well, the next time I got cut off, I spouted off the Scripture passage in anger, and I told the Lord that You know that I didn’t mean it. As I continued to pray this passage of Scripture, it eventually became my response instead of an angry reaction. I used this when working as a prayer counselor at CBN. People would curse at you and slam the phone down in your ear. So every time this happened I responded with this prayer of blessing regardless of whether they received it or not. Another prayer counselor beside me asked me what I was doing and I explained to her what the Lord told me to do, so she started doing it. Sometimes I slip up, but when I do, I make it a point to be extra aware of what is going on and pray this passage over people.
It is this daily anointing of God’s gracious Spirit upon our minds which produces in our lives such personality traits as joy, contentment, love, patience, gentleness, and peace. What a contrast this is to the tempers, frustration, and irritableness, which mar the daily conduct of so many of God’s children. What I do in any given situation is to expose it to my Master, my Owner, Christ Jesus, and simply ask for His help.
Summertime for the sheep is more that just fly time. It is also “scab-time.” Scab is an irritating and highly contagious disease common among sheep the world over. Sheep love to rub heads in an affectionate and friendly manner. When two sheep rub together the infection spreads readily from one to another.
In the Christian life, most of our contamination by the world, by sin, by that which would defile and disease us spiritually comes through our minds. It is a case of mind meeting mind to transmit ideas, concepts and attitudes that may be damaging.
Often it is when we “get our heads together” with someone else who may not necessarily have the mind of Christ, that we come away imbued with concepts that are not Christian. Our thoughts, our ideas, our emotions, our choices, our impulses, drives and desires are all shaped and molded through the exposure of our minds to others people’s, minds. One cannot be exposed to such contacts without coming away contaminated. I have been come into contact with a few of these and have “butted heads” with them.
The only possible, practical path to attaining such a mind free of the world’s contamination is to be conscious daily, hourly of the purging presence of God’s Holy Spirit to our minds. There are those who seem unable to realize His control of their minds and thoughts. It is a simple matter of faith and acceptance.
Just as one asks Christ to come into the life initially to assure complete control of one’s conscious and subconscious mind to monitor one’s thought-life. After believing, accepting with thanks the anointing of His gracious Spirit upon our minds, we simply proceed to live and act and think as He directs us.
The difficulty is that some of us are not in dead earnest about it. Like stubborn sheep we will struggle, kick, and protest when the Master puts His hand upon us for this purpose. Even if it is for our own good, we still rebel and refuse to have Him help us when we need it so desperately.
In a sense we are a stiff-necked lot and were it not for Christ’s continuing compassion and concern for us, most of us would be beyond hope or help. Sometimes I am quite sure Christ comes to us and applies the oil of His own Spirit to our minds in spite of our own objections.
Were this not so, where would most of us be?
As summer moves into autumn, there are subtle changes in the flock.
This is the season or the rut, of mating, of great battles between the rams for possession of the ewes. They strut proudly across the pastures and fight furiously for the favor of the ewes.
The shepherd knows all about this. He knows that some of the sheep will can actually kill, injure and main each other in these deadly combats. At this season of the year he will catch his rams and smear their heads with grease. The lubricant will make them glance off each other.
Among God’s people there is a considerable amount of knocking each other. Somehow if we don’t see eye to eye with the other person, we persist in trying to assert ourselves and become “top sheep.” A good many become badly bruised and hurt this way. Much of the grief, the wounds, the hurts, the ill will, the unforgiving things in people’s lives can usually be traced back to old rivalries or jealousies or battles that had broken out between believers. Scores of skeptical souls will never enter a church simply because way back into their experience someone had battered them badly.
To forestall and prevent this sort of thing from happening among His people our Shepherd loves to apply the precious ointment of the presence of His gracious Spirit to our lives. It will be recalled that just before His crucifixion, our Lord in dealing with His twelve disciples, who, even then, were caught up in jealous bickering and rivalry for prestige, told of the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth.
He said, they would know peace. He went on to say that His people would be known everywhere for their love for one another.
But too often this simply is not true among God’s own people. They hammer and knock each other, stiff-necked with pride and self-assertion. They are intolerant, dogmatic and uncharitable with other Christians. Yet when the gracious Holy Spirit invades a man or woman, when He enters that life and is in control of the personality, the attributes of peace, joy, longsuffering and generosity become apparent.
It is then that suddenly one becomes aware of how ridiculous are all the petty jealousies, rivalries, and animosities which formerly motivated their absurd assertions. This is to come to a place of contentment in the Shepherd’s care. It is then the cup of contentment that becomes real in the life.
MY CUP OVERFLOWS
The cup was a drinking vessel made of pottery or various metals such as gold, silver, or bronze. During biblical times cups came in two different forms. Some resembled their modern counterparts. However, most ancient cups were shallow bowls which were produced in a multitude of sizes.
In addition, the term cup was used to designate the receptacles for holding lamps on the lampstand of the tabernacle.
In the Bible, the word “cup” frequently is used in a figurative sense. The contents of the cup are accentuated, since symbolically God serves the drink.
Thus the cup might represent blessings or prosperity for a righteous person. (Psalm 16:5; 23:5; 116:13)
Likewise, it portrayed the totality of divine judgment on the wicked. ((Psalm 16:5; 75:8)(Isaiah 51:17, 22)
Jesus voluntarily drank the cup of suffering. (Matthew 20:22)(Matthew 26:39, 42) For Jesus that cup was His death and everything that it involved.
The cup had a prominent place in the liturgy of the Jewish Passover meal, and so, subsequently, in the Lord’s Supper. In the Christian ordinance the cup is a symbolic reminder of the atoning death of Jesus. (Matthew 26:27-28)(Mark 14:23-24)
As the children of God, the sheep in the Divine Shepherd’s care, we should be known as the most contented people on earth.
A quiet, restful contentment should be the hallmark of those who call Christ their Master. If He is the One who has all the knowledge and wisdom and understanding of my affairs and management; If He is able to cope with every situation, good or bad, that I encounter, then surely I should be satisfied with His care.
In a wonderful way my cup, or my lot in life, is a happy one that overflows with benefits of all sorts. The trouble is most of us don’t see if this way. Especially when troubles or disappointments come along, we are apt to feel forgotten by our Shepherd. We act as though He had fallen down on the job.
Actually He is never asleep.
He is never lax or careless.
He is never indifferent to our well being.
Our Shepherd always has our best interests in mind. Because of this we are actually under obligation to be a thankful, grateful, appreciative people. The New Testament instructs us clearly to grasp the idea that the cup of our life is full and overflowing with good, with the life of Christ Himself and with the presence of His gracious Spirit.
Because of this we should be joyous, grateful, and serene.
This is the overcoming Christian life.
It is the life in which a Christian can be content with whatever comes his way, even trouble.
Most of us are glad when things go well.
How many of us can give thanks when things go wrong?
Several years ago I was on my way to another state where we going to do a short term missions trip. As my friend and I were driving down the interstate, we were just enjoying the ride. Eventually we stopped at a gas station and noticed that my luggage on back of the truck was missing. Somewhere the suitcase had slipped out of the ropes that tied to the material we were carrying. After few moments, and deciding not to backtrack to try and find it, we continued on our way. I turned to my friend and, “You know, in 1 Thessalonians 5 if says to give thanks in everything. So Lord I thank you.” When we arrived to where we were going I shared with the others there what had happened. When we took a break from the Vacation Bible School we were doing, one of the parents came up to me and ask me to tell him what happened. I explained to him that somewhere the suitcase slipped out of the ropes, and that I thanked the Lord. He went away shaking his head and said that if that had happened to him he would have been mad.
Looking again at the round of the year through which the sheep pass in the shepherd’s care, we see summer moving into autumn. The autumn days can be golden under Indian summer weather. The sheep have respite now from flies and insects and scab. No other season finds them so fit and well and strong.
No wonder David wrote, “My cup runneth over.”
There is another aspect of the meaning of a cup that overflows.
There is in every life a cup of suffering.
Jesus Christ referred to His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and at Calvary as His cup. Had it not overflowed with His life poured out for men, we would have perished.
What a picture of my Master, sharing the wine, the very life blood of His own suffering from His overflowing cup poured out at Calvary for me.
He is there with me in every storm.
My Shepherd is alert to every approaching disaster that threatens His people.
He has been through the storms of suffering before.
He bore our sorrows and was acquainted with our grief. (Isaiah 53)
No matter what storms I face, His very life and strength and vitality is poured into mine.
It overflows so the cup of my life runs over with His life, often with great blessing and benefit to others who see me stand up so well in the midst of trials and suffering.
What about you?
