It is obvious that King David is professing his absolute confidence in the LORD his Shepherd in Psalm 23, verses 5 and 6. Let us see the literal message in verse 5 here. David seems to be saying, I am surrounded with enemies, yet you prepare table of feast before me in their presence. Though the enemies are ready to push me out of my throne, yet you anointed my head with oil and they are standing and seeing my cup overflowing with blessings. The back ground knowledge here will be useful. The Hebrew word for table denotes skin or leather like a mat. Shepherds always take their flocks to an open place and spread the mat on the ground to eat, rest or sleep for a while. While doing this, the flocks are stationed in a location, waiting or resting too. When the shepherds are resting, the flocks have no iota of fear because the shepherds are around them.
Another great lesson here is “Thou anointed my head with oil, my cup runneth over.” Hebrew word used for anoint here means make fat or make well fed. Among the Hebrews, anointed flock is a very fat and well fed animal. King David is telling God that as his Shepherd, He (God) has made him (David) fat and well fed. By his cup runneth over, David could be saying the LORD has made his blessings highly abundant. As Christians, while saying the LORD is our shepherd, we must have confidence that God will have a comfortable place for us despite the threatening from our enemies. God as our shepherd cannot be scared by the presence of our enemies. God will still give us abundant blessings against the plans of our enemies even in their presence.
Today’s devotional focuses on telling us that God and Jesus Christ are our shepherds. They know our ways through every firing and thickets of life. They do clear obstacles away for us in the presence of our enemies. A thick and deep darkness of troubles may come but God and Jesus Christ are capable of turning our ugly situations around for best. Fellow Christians, let us try to know Jehovah our Father and our LORD Jesus Christ as our Good and Great Shepherds like King David. The world is turning dangerous and hurting, but we have formidable Shepherds who can see us through all the time.
PRAYER:
Pray today with every mind and heart casted on God and Jesus, asking them to save you from your enemies. Command your blessings to come and locate you in Jesus name.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch