Psalm 23Trusting The Creator In A Coronavirus Crisis (2)
Notes
Transcript
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Psalm 23:5 Part 6
Psalm 23:5 Part 6
A Picnic In The Valley
A Picnic In The Valley
Intro:
Intro:
Some students believe there is a change of metaphor here, from the shepherd and his sheep to the host and his guest, but this is not necessarily the case. “Table” doesn’t necessarily refer to a piece of furniture used by humans, for the word simply means “something spread out.” Flat places in the hilly country were called “tables” and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these “tables” and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the fold (see 78:19). After each difficult day’s work, the aim of the shepherd was to bring the flock safely back to the fold where the weary sheep could safely rest for the night. Sometimes at the fold, the shepherd would spread out food in a trough, because sheep lie down and rest after they have eaten. As they slept, they would be protected by a stone wall that surrounded them, and the shepherd himself would sleep across the opening and be the door (John 10:7–9). The Lord doesn’t always remove the dangers from our lives, but He does help us to overcome them and not be paralyzed by fear. This is what it means to be “more than conquerors” and have peace in the midst of danger (Rom. 8:31–39).
Some students believe there is a change of metaphor here, from the shepherd and his sheep to the host and his guest, but this is not necessarily the case. “Table” doesn’t necessarily refer to a piece of furniture used by humans, for the word simply means “something spread out.” Flat places in the hilly country were called “tables” and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these “tables” and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the fold (see 78:19). After each difficult day’s work, the aim of the shepherd was to bring the flock safely back to the fold where the weary sheep could safely rest for the night. Sometimes at the fold, the shepherd would spread out food in a trough, because sheep lie down and rest after they have eaten. As they slept, they would be protected by a stone wall that surrounded them, and the shepherd himself would sleep across the opening and be the door (John 10:7–9). The Lord doesn’t always remove the dangers from our lives, but He does help us to overcome them and not be paralyzed by fear. This is what it means to be “more than conquerors” and have peace in the midst of danger (Rom. 8:31–39).
The Context of verse 5:
The Context of verse 5:
The shepherd would examine the sheep as they entered the fold to be sure none of them was bruised, injured, or sick from eating a poisonous plant. To the hurts, he applied the soothing oil, and for the thirsty, he had his large two-handled cup filled with water. He would also apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away. The sheep knew they were safe and they could sleep without fear.
The shepherd would examine the sheep as they entered the fold to be sure none of them was bruised, injured, or sick from eating a poisonous plant. To the hurts, he applied the soothing oil, and for the thirsty, he had his large two-handled cup filled with water. He would also apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away. The sheep knew they were safe and they could sleep without fear.
1. The Lord Provides Anywhere
1. The Lord Provides Anywhere
in the presence of my enemies;
in the presence of my enemies;
Table
Table
šulchān
šulchān
<H7979>
<H7979>
There is yet another provision from the Shepherd in Psalm 23:5: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." Some expositors insist that David changes his metaphor here from the Shepherd taking care of his sheep in the field to the Host entertaining his guests at a banquet. We humbly submit, however, that such an assumption is unwarranted for two reasons: First, there is the context. The preceding verses are obviously about the Shepherd but so are the ones that follow. Second, and more importantly, is the Hebrew behind table. This is šulchān (<H7979>), which does not necessarily refer to what we normally think of as a table, whether the elaborate one in the banquet hall or even the tiny one for two in our breakfast nook. In the earliest OT times, in fact, a table was no more than an animal hide spread on a tent floor or the ground. One commentator, for example, observes that the words "prepare the table" in Isaiah 21:5 mean "spread rugs"
There is yet another provision from the Shepherd in Psalm 23:5: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." Some expositors insist that David changes his metaphor here from the Shepherd taking care of his sheep in the field to the Host entertaining his guests at a banquet. We humbly submit, however, that such an assumption is unwarranted for two reasons: First, there is the context. The preceding verses are obviously about the Shepherd but so are the ones that follow. Second, and more importantly, is the Hebrew behind table. This is šulchān (<H7979>), which does not necessarily refer to what we normally think of as a table, whether the elaborate one in the banquet hall or even the tiny one for two in our breakfast nook. In the earliest OT times, in fact, a table was no more than an animal hide spread on a tent floor or the ground. One commentator, for example, observes that the words "prepare the table" in Isaiah 21:5 mean "spread rugs"
The shepherd inspects new grazing areas or "tables of land" for dangers to the flock. This is one way of looking at this verse.
The shepherd inspects new grazing areas or "tables of land" for dangers to the flock. This is one way of looking at this verse.
He scouts the land for:
He scouts the land for:
Poisonous Plants = Shepherds look for certain kind of plants before sheep could eat.
Poisonous Plants = Shepherds look for certain kind of plants before sheep could eat.
Predators = During the night, thieves and dangerous animals might approach the fold, but there was no way they could reach the sheep.
Predators = During the night, thieves and dangerous animals might approach the fold, but there was no way they could reach the sheep.
Problem Places = The pasture land has been literally prepared in the presence of the sheep's enemies. The shepherd will also prepare land that he owns for grazing by removing rocks and stumps, preparing pools of water, and seeding the land with grass. He prepares a table for his lambs.
Problem Places = The pasture land has been literally prepared in the presence of the sheep's enemies. The shepherd will also prepare land that he owns for grazing by removing rocks and stumps, preparing pools of water, and seeding the land with grass. He prepares a table for his lambs.
Pits (snakes) = Little vipers will bite the sheep on the nose which results in serious infections or death. When viper holes are located, the shepherd will take thick oil from his girdle and pour a circle of oil at the top of the viper's hole. The oil keeps the vipers from getting out.
Pits (snakes) = Little vipers will bite the sheep on the nose which results in serious infections or death. When viper holes are located, the shepherd will take thick oil from his girdle and pour a circle of oil at the top of the viper's hole. The oil keeps the vipers from getting out.
Life Application:
Life Application:
God's provision for us is anywhere too. He can supply our needs no matter where we are. God took care of baby Moses in the presence of his enemies. He was reared in the palace of the man who tried to have him killed. God had the last laugh. God directs and orders our steps and we need to trust Him with our lives.
God's provision for us is anywhere too. He can supply our needs no matter where we are. God took care of baby Moses in the presence of his enemies. He was reared in the palace of the man who tried to have him killed. God had the last laugh. God directs and orders our steps and we need to trust Him with our lives.
2. The Lord Provides Affectionately
2. The Lord Provides Affectionately
You anoint my head with oil;
You anoint my head with oil;
Oil [and] Anoint (1)
Oil [and] Anoint (1)
(šemen [and] dāšēn
(šemen [and] dāšēn
<H8081> <H1878>)
<H8081> <H1878>)
Psalm 23:5 provides the believer with still another provision from the Shepherd: "Thou anointest my head with oil." "Anointest" is dāšēn (<H1878>), which is not the word for anoint that we find in other contexts, rather a verb that literally means "to be or grow fat" and so figuratively "to anoint, to satisfy."
Psalm 23:5 provides the believer with still another provision from the Shepherd: "Thou anointest my head with oil." "Anointest" is dāšēn (<H1878>), which is not the word for anoint that we find in other contexts, rather a verb that literally means "to be or grow fat" and so figuratively "to anoint, to satisfy."
David is, therefore, saying that the blessing of God's oil "makes him fat," that is, spiritually rich and prosperous.
David is, therefore, saying that the blessing of God's oil "makes him fat," that is, spiritually rich and prosperous.
As the sheep filed into the fold in the evening, a good shepherd would examine each one with an experienced eye, looking for cuts and other injuries, and would apply soothing, healing oil where needed. Oil was also used on the head and horns to help keep insects away.
As the sheep filed into the fold in the evening, a good shepherd would examine each one with an experienced eye, looking for cuts and other injuries, and would apply soothing, healing oil where needed. Oil was also used on the head and horns to help keep insects away.
Sheep would be pestered by flies laying eggs in their nose and worms would work their way up into their heads. For relief, sheep would beat their heads against the trees, rocks, or posts. They would eventually go blind and even die. Sheep run from flies and will eventually drop from exhaustion. The antidote for this problem was linseed oil mixed with sulphur and tar. The shepherd would apply this to the head, nose, tail area and even the feet because the flies could lay eggs in the hoofs. The oil acted as a repellant to pests. It also soothed any scratches or wounds the sheep may have incurred in the pasture. During the mating season, it lessened the blows of butting rams. The shepherd anointed the sheep because of his care and love for his lambs.
Sheep would be pestered by flies laying eggs in their nose and worms would work their way up into their heads. For relief, sheep would beat their heads against the trees, rocks, or posts. They would eventually go blind and even die. Sheep run from flies and will eventually drop from exhaustion. The antidote for this problem was linseed oil mixed with sulphur and tar. The shepherd would apply this to the head, nose, tail area and even the feet because the flies could lay eggs in the hoofs. The oil acted as a repellant to pests. It also soothed any scratches or wounds the sheep may have incurred in the pasture. During the mating season, it lessened the blows of butting rams. The shepherd anointed the sheep because of his care and love for his lambs.
All this fits the picture perfectly. It is inevitable that as we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death."
All this fits the picture perfectly. It is inevitable that as we "walk through the valley of the shadow of death."
Life Application:
Life Application:
Unavoidably Encountering "Evil"
Unavoidably Encountering "Evil"
Unavoidably Encountering "Evil" as we go and facing the countless "enemies" that lurk, we are going to get some "cuts and bruises." We will endure weariness, discouragement, character attack, and all manner of suffering, for "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). But as we come back to the fold each evening, The Lord is waiting to "look us over" and apply His healing oil where it is needed. The Lord Loves and Cares for us ... Lamentations 3:22—It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Unavoidably Encountering "Evil" as we go and facing the countless "enemies" that lurk, we are going to get some "cuts and bruises." We will endure weariness, discouragement, character attack, and all manner of suffering, for "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). But as we come back to the fold each evening, The Lord is waiting to "look us over" and apply His healing oil where it is needed. The Lord Loves and Cares for us ... Lamentations 3:22—It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
What is that oil, then?
What is that oil, then?
In the Bible, anointing with oil was done to soothe a person who was injured or hurt. It was an act of medication. The priests were anointed with oil as a symbol of consecration to service. Kings were also anointed as a symbol of coronation. Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Every Christian has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within. The Holy Spirit soothes our hurts and pains and gives us comfort.
Oil is a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 45:7; 89:20; Zech. 4:12); it is He who comforts us, and He does that through the Word of God.
In the winter the shepherd has to keep a close watch over the sheep because sometime it gets cold and they will freeze to death. The shepherd brings the sheep. He gets oil and mixes a little wine in the oil. Then he gets the sheep to open his mouth while he pours in the liquid. That gives the sheep enough on the inside to keep him warm, to keep him from freezing to death. In other words, the shepherd prepares the sheep for storms.
In the Bible, anointing with oil was done to soothe a person who was injured or hurt. It was an act of medication. The priests were anointed with oil as a symbol of consecration to service. Kings were also anointed as a symbol of coronation. Oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Every Christian has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit within. The Holy Spirit soothes our hurts and pains and gives us comfort.
Oil is a symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Ps. 45:7; 89:20; Zech. 4:12); it is He who comforts us, and He does that through the Word of God.
In the winter the shepherd has to keep a close watch over the sheep because sometime it gets cold and they will freeze to death. The shepherd brings the sheep. He gets oil and mixes a little wine in the oil. Then he gets the sheep to open his mouth while he pours in the liquid. That gives the sheep enough on the inside to keep him warm, to keep him from freezing to death. In other words, the shepherd prepares the sheep for storms.
Well, the anointing prepares us for the storms. Storms will come, saints. I don't care how much sense you have. Every one of us is either in a storm now or just coming out of a storm or you could be on your way to a storm. We know people can get into some predicaments that money can't get pay their way out of. You can get into some predicaments that even your connections can't get save you from. But we know somebody who can get us out of any given situation. The God I serve is a deliverer.
Well, the anointing prepares us for the storms. Storms will come, saints. I don't care how much sense you have. Every one of us is either in a storm now or just coming out of a storm or you could be on your way to a storm. We know people can get into some predicaments that money can't get pay their way out of. You can get into some predicaments that even your connections can't get save you from. But we know somebody who can get us out of any given situation. The God I serve is a deliverer.
3. The Lord Provides Abundantly
3. The Lord Provides Abundantly
my cup overflows.
my cup overflows.
Cup (Runneth Over)
Cup (Runneth Over)
(kôs [and] rewāyāh
(kôs [and] rewāyāh
<H3563> <H7310>)
<H3563> <H7310>)
So David says that the blessings his Shepherd provides not only fill his cup but overflow it. Runneth over is rewāyāh (<H7310>), a noun meaning "abundance, state of overflowing, or saturation." It appears only one other place, where the psalmist says that God brought His people "out into a [saturated, overflowing] place" (Ps. 66:12). This refers, of course, to the riches of Canaan, "a land flowing [that floweth] with milk and honey," a phrase we find some twenty times (e.g., Exod. 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Lev. 20:24; Josh. 5:6).
So David says that the blessings his Shepherd provides not only fill his cup but overflow it. Runneth over is rewāyāh (<H7310>), a noun meaning "abundance, state of overflowing, or saturation." It appears only one other place, where the psalmist says that God brought His people "out into a [saturated, overflowing] place" (Ps. 66:12). This refers, of course, to the riches of Canaan, "a land flowing [that floweth] with milk and honey," a phrase we find some twenty times (e.g., Exod. 3:8, 17; 13:5; 33:3; Lev. 20:24; Josh. 5:6).
Sheep do not like to get wet. It may take as long as two hours to water fifty sheep. Shepherds would sometimes draw water from deep wells and pour the water into stone cups beside the well. When the shepherd would fill these cups to the brim, it enabled the sheep to drink with ease and it was a mark of his love and kindness for his sheep. Shepherds would also put the nose of sheep in a cup to help them get rid of fever. The cup would run over when the nose of the lamb was put into the cup of water or medicine.
Life Application:
Sheep do not like to get wet. It may take as long as two hours to water fifty sheep. Shepherds would sometimes draw water from deep wells and pour the water into stone cups beside the well. When the shepherd would fill these cups to the brim, it enabled the sheep to drink with ease and it was a mark of his love and kindness for his sheep. Shepherds would also put the nose of sheep in a cup to help them get rid of fever. The cup would run over when the nose of the lamb was put into the cup of water or medicine.
Life Application:
IN the NT there is no verse that demonstrates all this better than Ephesians 3:20. The Greek construction of "exceeding abundantly" yields Paul's full thought: "Not only can God do more than enough, and above and beyond more than enough, but even more than above and beyond more than enough." The Lord can do infinitely more than that which any of us can "ask" or even "think" about asking.
IN the NT there is no verse that demonstrates all this better than Ephesians 3:20. The Greek construction of "exceeding abundantly" yields Paul's full thought: "Not only can God do more than enough, and above and beyond more than enough, but even more than above and beyond more than enough." The Lord can do infinitely more than that which any of us can "ask" or even "think" about asking.
No matter how wealthy we are, if we are discontented our cup cannot run over; it is cracked and leaks." How many of us today, both unbelievers and believers, have a "leaky cup"? We try to fill the cup with all our might, the cup simply will not fill. Worse than that, we can't even find the leak.
No matter how wealthy we are, if we are discontented our cup cannot run over; it is cracked and leaks." How many of us today, both unbelievers and believers, have a "leaky cup"? We try to fill the cup with all our might, the cup simply will not fill. Worse than that, we can't even find the leak.
Treasures From the Scriptures - Treasures from Treasured Psalms, Volume 1.
Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, 1st ed., “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004), 97.
A Hebrew Word for the Day: Key Words from the Old Testament.