Psalm 23: 5-6
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Yesterday we rejoiced that the Good Shepherd walks with us as we face our fears and our foes. He walks with us in those valleys but he also has the tools of a rod and staff to direct and protect us. The psalm ends with the blessings of following the Good Shepherd.
Not only does the Lord stand “lock step” with me as I face my enemies but the psalmist envisions the Lord preparing a banquet and anointing my head with oil. The picture that comes to mind is Jesus eating at the home of a Pharisee and a “sinner”, a woman, anointed his feet and wiped them with her hair. The guests objects but Jesus defends her and blesses her. The psalm reverses the picture. The psalmist envisions us as the one being anointed and fed.
My husband used to say, even in the nursing home, “I’m drinking from the saucer cause my cup is overflowing.” When tea was served in Kenya, children would be served also. But of course the tea was hot and the children were young. So the host or hostess would pour some into the saucer and blow on the tea to cool it or swirl it around in an empty cup and then give it to the child. I think that is a good image for here. God does not prepare a banquet that will hurt us but knows just what is right, even when I am in the presence of my enemies. That is amazing.
And then that beautiful ending. Surely, most certainly, it just must be true that goodness and mercy will follow me as I follow the Lord —all of my life. The Good Shepherd is not just leading us into a good future but he is with us and helping us to have a good day even when life appears rough and unfair to us. He is with us in our context, wherever it is. He guides, makes us lie down and restores my weary soul. He is with me facing fears and foes and he blesses. I can only pray, Thank you.
On the Way to Wonder 