Psalms 23:5 Monte T. Brown
Prelude
As we continue our series “The Lord is My Shepherd,” we come to verse five of the 23rd Psalms. Where we find four parts to the fifth verse;
1. You Prepare a Table Before Me
2. In the Presence of My Enemies
3. You Anoint My Head with Oil
4. My Cup Runs Over
Scripture
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psalms 23:5
Prayer
Introduction
Even though we do not know every detail about the everyday life, of the Israelites, the Bedouin living in Israel today preserve a nomadic lifestyle that dates back to ancient times.
Bedouin live in tents and travel as nomadic tribes, much as the ancient Israelites would have done.
Their shepherds tend flocks in the wilderness, just as King David did when he was a young boy.
In Bedouin tradition, guests are treated with great honor.
Visitors, even strangers, are provided with the best they can offer.
The Bedouin would fight to their own death to defend their guests from any harm.
The amazing hospitality of the Bedouin was probably common behavior to the ancient Israelites.
When David wrote that the Lord “prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies,” he probably drew on imagery from his everyday life.
By doing so, he gave a beautiful picture of God’s love.
Even when enemies surround us, he offers protection and provision.
1. You Prepare a Table Before Me
1. God’s Table Provides Nourishment
Physical nourishment and spiritual nourishment, physical nourishment required to maintain physical life and spiritual nourishment required to maintain spiritual life.
God provided the Israelites food in the wilderness.
He also provided John the Baptist food in the wilderness.
God’s Word tells us in 1 Peter 2:2 that it is spiritual food for us.
2. God’s Table Provides opportunity for Growth
Physical growth and spiritual growth, physical growth to develop a healthy body and spiritual growth required to develop a strong spiritual body.
Proverbs 3:1-10 tells us that God’s Word will bring health both physically and spiritually.
3. God’s Table Provides a Place of Fellowship
This is why God provided us the church.
The Bible tells us that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves with other believers. Hebrews 10:25
4. God’s Table Provides a Sense of Security
Job 8:15 tells us that worldly security won’t last. However spiritual security last throughout eternity.
5. Gods’ Table Provides an Abundance
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Luke 6:38 (NKJV)
6. God’s Table Provides a Place of Belonging
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 (NKJV)
7. God’s Table Provides a Place of Acceptance.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)
2. In the Presence of My Enemies
The enemy is all around us.
Everywhere we look, he is present, the wilderness that surrounds us, and the very elements that are in the wilderness.
However, God is ever present and he draws us close to him.
The writer of Psalms 81 spoke of God’s ability to provide “honey from the rock,” pointing to the truth that God’s sweetness is often found in the wilderness.
We may not want to face them, but the “rocks” in our own lives are the very places where God draws closest.
Dust and rocks are a natural part of our sinful world. Some may be small, others so large that we feel crushed.
But the wilderness will not destroy us. We have a good shepherd that walks by us in the darkest hours of life.
Our world glorifies leisure, so it’s hard to go to the “wilderness” where life’s challenges confront us.
Few of us go there by choice.
But most of us will walk through the wilderness at some point during our faith journey.
When we do, we can count our shepherd to guide us safely through.
Do you trust God to walk with you even in the wilderness?
3. You Anoint My Head with Oil
You anoint my Head with Oil´. We see a shepherd anointing the heads of sheep with oil to preserve them from sunstroke, insects, or to heal bramble scratches.
In Exodus 30 there is a holy anointing oil, used to anoint the priests, tabernacle, and congregation.
This was to sanctify them, so that they may be holy, in the presence of God almighty.
Anointing was used for healing, the blind man eyes anointed. John 9:11; Mark 6:13
Used for burial, found in John 12:3; Mark 16:1 where Mary anointed the feet of Jesus.
Anointing used for pastors and deacons calling. Luke 4:18
The word Messiah means “Anointed One.”
As believers we are anointed and sealed with the Holy Spirit.
4. My Cup Runs Over
Jesus came that we might life on a permanent basis, and that we might enjoy the possession of living More Abundantly.
Said Jesus in John 10:10, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it More Abundantly."
´My cup runneth over´. God’s provisions are endless.
We must be willing to accept them.
"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it More Abundantly. “ John 10:10
David tells us in Psalms 23:5 that he is experiencing his cup running over, which is only experienced by those who have declared the Lord Jesus Christ as their Only Shepherd, and are seeking to bring every aspect of their life under the Total Lordship of Jesus Christ.
This running over comes as a direct result of Following the Lord’s Leadership - He Leadeth Me, He
Maketh Me, He Restoreth My Soul, and in time of Trouble, to rest upon His Awesome Presence and Protection.
I tell you, Possessing and Feeling the Lord’s Anointing on Your Life will cause your cup to run over.
It is that running over that is missing in most of our lives; and
in particular, in our giving, of our finances and time.
How do we get to this running over in our walk with the Lord?
Conclusion/Invitation
1) Step one; is to turn your cup right side up
In most good restaurants, the coffee cups are placed up-side-down on the saucer, and if you desire coffee, you just turn your cup right side up.
Then the waitress/waiter takes that signal as your desire for coffee.
If you want the coffee, just turn your cup right side up!
Many of us are trying to live the Abundant Life with Up Side-Down Cups!
Our Cup Must Be Turned Right Side-Up.
Be Open To Believe God.
To Receive of His Fullness.
You can stay close to the spout where the Glory runs out, but it doesn’t do you any good if your cup is upside down.
2) Step two; have the crack in your cup mended
Some of Our Cups are Not Running Over because They Are Cracked!
• Cracked from Disobedience
• Cracked from Selfishness
• Cracked because of sin in our lives
We need to take our cracked cup to the potter to be mended.
• Repair the crack of disobedience
• Repair the crack of selfishness
• Repair the crack of sin in our lives
Only the master shepherd can mend the crack, because he is the creator of all and the true master potter.
Now, when Our Upside-Down Cups have been Turned Right Side-Up and Our Cracked Cups become Mended Cup, then:
Turn Your Cup Right Side Up and say:
"Fill my cup, Lord;
I Lift it up, Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my Soul.
Bread of Heaven,
Feed me ’til I want no More.
Fill My Cup.
I Lift It Up.
Lord, Make Me Whole."
What is your decision today?
Where do you stand with the Lord?
