Psalm 23
Portrays the Close
relationship
David enjoys with his God
It begins with the metaphor of a shepherd leading his lamb, highlighting the Lord’s personal care, guidance, and protection. In the closing verses, the imagery intensifies with even greater intimacy as David is welcomed into the Lord’s house as a permanent guest, continual resident, and friend:
“You prepare a table before me
in the
presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows
Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell
in the house of the LORD forever”
Psalm 23:5–6, ESV
David acknowledges that his standing with the Lord
is not like a visitor
who is entertained once and then must leave
or as one who is invited to return only occasionally.
No, David rejoices that he has
been given a perpetual place setting
at the Lord’s table
Anointing a person’s head with oil was an ancient custom
of courtesy, respect, and hospitality shown toward guests.
In Psalm 23,
David sees himself
as an honored guest of the Lord,
who invites him to dinner,
favorably anoints him, and
pours out such lavish abundance that
David’s cup is filled to overflowing
Goodness and Mercy are depicted as attendants
in the
Lord’s household who accompany David for the rest of his life.
The word for “goodness” in the original language means
“that which is pleasing or valuable or useful.”
The term for “mercy” is sometimes translated
as “loyal love,” “steadfast love,” or “unfailing love.”
The same word is used of God’s love
as it relates to the
faithfulness of His covenant.
The verb translated as “follow” here means
“to accompany, or to go with.”
It should not be understood as “pursue or run after.”
When David said,
“Surely goodness and mercy shall Follow Me
All the days of my life,”
He was giving human-like qualities to
Abstract blessings of the Lord
A paraphrase might be,
“Because You, Lord, are good, pleasing, and valuable,
and
because You love me so faithfully,
I AM certain
You will be with me all my life.”
The phrase my cup runneth over is the King James Version’s
wording of Psalm 23:5.
Other versions say “my cup overflows.”
A cup runs over when
it cannot hold
all that is being poured into it.
The emphasis of Psalm 23is the
Good Shepherd’s loving care for His sheep
(cf. John 10:11, 14)
The Lord not only gives
His people what they need
(Psalm 23:1–2),
but He supplies abundance in the
midst of difficult times
(verse 5)
This abundance
is not limited to material blessings under
the Old Covenant,
but it also includes the
Holy Spirit’s
future outpouring upon
all who ask
(Luke 11:13; Acts 2:1–4)
The Bible emphasizes the excessive
Love, Blessing, and
Power that God desires to Pour Out on
those who love Him
(Malachi 3:10; Lamentations 3:22; Psalm 108:4)
Jesus reflected God’s generosity when He said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Paul continues that theme in Ephesians 3:20 and describes God as the One “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Romans 8:37 promises that we are “more than conquerors through Him who loves us.” The message echoed in each passage is that of God’s excessive grace and provision for every area of our lives. He is not stingy, nor are His blessings confined to temporal things.
In Christ
we can have overflowing joy,
overflowing love,
and overflowing peace
We can bear
everlasting fruit for God’s kingdom,
and we can
overcome impossible challenges
when the
Holy Spirit fills our hearts until our
“cup runneth over.”
The Bible records many mighty things done when people were filled with (i.e., controlled by) the Holy Spirit (Exodus 31:2–3; Ezekiel 43:5; Luke 1:67; Acts 4:31). We are urged to be filled with the Spirit as well (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:16, 25). However, as a glass cannot be filled with milk if it is already filled with mud, we cannot be filled with the Spirit when we are already filled with sin, pride, or self-will. Before we can be filled to overflowing, we must be willing to empty ourselves of everything that would hinder the Spirit’s working in our lives. It is only when our hearts are filled with God that we can accomplish all He desires to do in and through us.
His Grace Knows no limits
for those
whose Hearts are Wholly His
(2 Chronicles 16:9a)
He desires to fill us with His Spirit until our cup runneth over.