Psalm 23:5 KJV
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
At the beginning of the 23rd Psalm, the Psalmist David begins with the words “The Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want.”
As a child of God, “I shall not want” says it all, in just 4 words.
These words are further emphasized in our study verse for this lesson.
As a child of God, we have all that we need, but He provides us even more.
THE TABLE
In Psalm 23:5, David says that God prepares a table before him, which signifies a state of abundance. A state of prosperity.
The use of the word table also signified a “feast” during the historical period the Psalm was written.
In other words, God has blessed David with more than David needs to live. He has provided a “feast” of blessings in David’s life.
SATAN CANNOT STOP THE BLESSINGS OF GOD
He further says that this table is prepared in the presence of David’s enemies.
This signifies that Satan can do nothing to stop the blessings of God when He wants to shower them upon us.
God can and will bless His children and there is nothing Satan, his minions, or our earthly enemies can do to stop it.
The children of God will triumph, even in the presence of their foes.
THE OIL and THE CUP
David then says that God anoints his head with oil.
There was a custom of anointing one’s head with oil at feasts or festival occasions.
This indicated abundance, prosperity and pure joy; a celebration of divine favor.
Finally, David exclaims that his cup is not just full, but it runs over. This again signifies the abundance of God’s blessings and that God would never leave him to be in want.
The words “I shall not want” say it all.
Let us take a few minutes to contemplate and meditate on what God has done for us.
Let us consider the bountiful blessings of this life, that He has granted us.
Let us lift our hearts in praise, for all that He has done for us.
As we meditate on the blessings of our life, let us pray this simple prayer…”Father in heaven, we humbly bow before you in praise and thanksgiving, thanking you for all things; I thank you for all of the blessings that you have allowed me to have in this life…so much more than I could have imagined. I thank you and praise you for this.”
As we meditate and pray, let us realize that with all He has done for us in this life, we too can proclaim “my cup truly does run over.”
RVH