Thou Preparest A Table Before Me
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:5-6
We can stop being sheep (or sheepish) for a bit. (Sheep do not often dine at tables, after all.) Here the Psalmist talks more about the shepherd, and where following a good shepherd leads us.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” We, the sheep of this metaphorical song of praise, have nothing to fear. Even though we may be surrounded by enemies, we can have peace. We do not have to snatch a bite here and there, and then flee. We have “green pastures” and “still waters” to nourish us. We can “lay down” and rest in safety. The shepherd is guiding us, watching over us, and protecting us as the old hymn says, “safe and secure from all alarms.”
“Thou anoitest my head with oil.” Shepherds in ancient Palestine did carry vials of oil. Sheep often got entangled and scratched by briars and thorns, and the shepherd would apply this oil to both soothe the wounds and keep away flies and gnats. But this passage means a bit more. To anoint was to separate something as holy. The Psalmist was reminding the reader that the reader himself was an important part of a holy people.
“My cup runneth over.” If there is a better, more expressive, completely right expression of joy, I would really like to know what that expression is. In his book, The Redemption of Scrooge, Rev. Matt Rawle defines “joy” as “the steadfast assurance that God is with us.” We are filled to the brim with joy, so filled that it overflows us and is shared by those around us. We all know someone who makes us feel better just by being around them. That person does not have to say anything or do anything. Just the joy of their presence makes us joyful too.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” The Hebrew verb redap used here for “shall follow” is elsewhere most often used with a rather hostile connotation. The Psalmist is saying not that goodness and mercy is tagging along behind. He is saying goodness and mercy will chase us, will pursue us doggedly, even when we try and evade them. It is God’s goodness and mercy telling us we can run, but we cannot hide. But we do. But like the shepherd leaving the ninety and nine to search for one that is lost, God will find us. God will rescue us. And there will be joyful rejoicing.
“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This is why we will fear no evil when we each must “walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” This is the hope. This is the promise. This is the joy we hold today. We know what awaits us on the other side.
Amen. And again, I say, Amen,
Jerry Lipscomb
