The Shepherd and His Sheep: Psalm 23:5

We are now down to the final two verses in our series on Psalm 23. It has been an amazing study, and it has helped me tremendously. I hope it has helped you as well.

Tonight, I want to zoom in on verse number five and see the work the Shepherd continues to do for the sheep. At first glance, it looks like three random and unconnected statements—the table, the oil, and the cup. But when you read it carefully, you see they are tied together. The prepared table includes the oil and the overrunning cup.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

It’s as if David is saying: tonight we are having dinner—steak and potatoes and sweet tea. This verse describes three unique actions by the Shepherd, but they all work together to set us up in a place of protection, promise, and provision.

1. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”

Some of the earlier pictures in Psalm 23 are shepherd-to-sheep: The Lord is my Shepherd… He maketh me to lie down in green pastures… He leadeth me beside still waters… Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

But this statement is different, because sheep don’t sit in chairs or dine at tables—men and women do. David is speaking as a man who has walked with God through valleys, shadows, highs, and lows. He not only knows the Lord as Shepherd, but also as Friend. He’s sitting at the table as the friend of God.

Another truth is that, even as we walk close to the Shepherd, we will still face enemies. The devil is a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Jesus told Peter, “I have prayed for thee,” because Satan desired to sift him as wheat. Yes, we will have enemies—but we also have a Shepherd and Friend who is so fearless and so confident that He prepares a feast for us right in front of them.

2. “Thou anointest my head with oil.”

This statement is filled with care and comfort. David may have had a dual meaning in mind here.

• As a shepherd: Sheep often injure themselves with their heads. They butt heads with other sheep, rub against trees or rocks, and get cuts and sores. Flies, gnats, and mosquitoes then target those wounds, bringing disease and misery. A shepherd would pour oil over the head of the sheep to heal the wounds and keep pests away—allowing the sheep to rest and live in peace. That is exactly what our Shepherd does for us. When life overwhelms us, if we allow Him to intervene, He can anoint the problem, anoint the pain, and anoint the pest—so that we can sit at His table in peace.

• As the anointed king: David could not help but remember when Samuel poured oil on his head (1 Samuel 16:13). He wasn’t the obvious choice, but God chose him and anointed him. From that day forward, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him. Yet, it took 15 years before David finally became king. He endured rejection, hiding, fear, and heartbreak. But eventually, God’s promise came true.

I can’t tell you much about man’s anointing, man’s appointments, or man’s recommendations, but when God anoints a person, in His time, they will become what He anointed them for. It may take a lifetime, but God always keeps His promises!

Here in the closing years of his life, David seems to be saying: “Just like I anointed my sheep for their peace and safety so they could live out their purpose—God, You anointed me, and You never let me down!”

3. “My cup runneth over.”

Sitting at the banquet table of God, David could confidently say, “I have all I will ever need.”

This may have been David’s way of simply saying Amen to all he had just written.

F.B. Meyer once said:

“Whatever blessing is in our cup, it is sure to run over with Him. The calf is always the fatted calf. The robe is always the best robe. The joy is unspeakable. The peace passeth understanding. The grace is so abundant that the recipient has all sufficiency.”

Oh, that we would recognize the overflowing blessings our Shepherd wants to give us. David said, “My cup runneth over.”