Psalm 23 Part 5 Present Blessings And Hope For The Future

Psalm 23:1-4  A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He fulfills all of the responsibilities of a shepherd by properly tending his flock.

A believer in Christ does not lack anything necessary for this life on earth and in terms of spiritual life, the Christian has been granted all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.

By giving us His Word and sending His Spirit to live in us, God makes us lie down by the green pastures, which pictures us coming to feed our soul with the scriptures.

The LORD will lead us to still, pure waters to replenish our soul.

This pictures us coming to a passage of scripture to stop and really think about what God is saying to us, and asking Him for understanding so that we might live in accord with His Word.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

When a Christian dies, it is described as falling asleep in Christ and waking up in the LORD's presence in heaven (See 1 Corinthians 15:12-58).

Paul refers to Christians who died as being asleep and that when Christ returns, the dead in Christ will rise first, followed by the rapture of living believers.

David knew this same truth about trusting Jehovah for salvation, and knowing the certainty of a future resurrection. 

This is why the king said he would not fear any evil that might befall him, even if it posed a real threat to his life.

David did not fear death for his trust was in the LORD to save him, and to grant him eternal life.

Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 

The providence of God helps sustain us through this life.

He will provide those good, temporal things that we need in order to live on earth.

Preparing a banquet table for the child of God. In this verse, David tells us that Jehovah is getting a table ready before him. 

Jehovah our Shepherd is arranging all the items on a table to hold the good things that He has prepared for David.  

It seems most unusual to be sitting down to eat a meal in front of your enemies during periods of war. 

Normally, you would seek cover from your enemies while you gulped down enough nourishment to sustain you through the battle. 

David had many enemies. King Saul relentlessly chased after David and his men. 

David had many narrow escapes from his enemies. Yet, the picture given to us here is that Jehovah can furnish a table for His sheep even when we are surrounded by great adversity. 

Who are the enemies? The word refers to those who cause us to suffer great anxiety, to be troubled and distressed, or to be bound up by their threats. 

Whatever the burden shouldered by a believer, the table of Jehovah is always prepared and we may sit and be nourished.

“Anointing the head with oil” was an act of bestowing a blessing and is a sign of respect and warm hospitality for a guest. 

Pouring valuable oil upon a person's head was an act that refreshed the weary or dusty travelers. 

It was also performed many times in the Bible as an act to set someone apart for God’s purposes.

“My cup runneth over” was an act of kindness. 

Pouring the wine until it overflowed from the cup was meant to show a guest that they were welcome to stay as long as they wished. 

For as long as the guest stayed, it meant that the host would make sure there was an abundance of provision for the table. 

This text pictures the LORD spreading a fully furnished table for us, even though we live in a world cursed by sin and surrounded by evil doers.

This is our present reality. God does supply our needs but we are surrounded by widespread cultural depravity.

In a future sense, this feast provided by God in the presence of our enemies, looks forward to that great day in heaven, where there will be no sinners.

In that day all believers from the Old and New Testament periods will joyously celebrate the marriage supper of the Lamb (See Revelation 19:6-10).

The idea of having ones head anointed with oil, reminds us that oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit of God. 

He fills our hearts with gladness, joy and praises to our LORD.

He empowers us to love God and serve Him.

He strengthens us to love and serve others as Christ commanded.

Rich blessings as described by David remind us of all the very good things we have in Christ. 

God's grace brings the power of the gospel to us, and gives us the opportunity to respond with repentant faith in Christ.

God's mercy is poured out on us because our Father is satisfied with Jesus' atoning work for us, and He withholds the punishment for our sins that we deserve.

The LORD himself is the portion of our cup, and we can say with David that our cup overflows with the goodness of God toward us.

David expresses the security and certainty of the promises of Jehovah our Shepherd. His goodness and mercy will chase after us. 

The mercy and goodness of Jehovah will always pursue us all through this life and the next. 

His mercy and grace will never stop coming after us because Jehovah has promised to extend them to us.

Salvation is all of God. 

He saves us, He keeps us and He will carry us all the way through this life and into eternity with Him. 

This is an extraordinary and blessed truth for the sheep in Jehovah's pasture.

We rejoice because Jehovah our shepherd anoints us with His mercy and grace.

Psalm 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

The 23rd Psalm is far more than a funeral text. It is a Psalm of life, hope and comfort. 

It communicates the heart of Jehovah to His sheep. 

It reminds us of what is true and sure when we are overwhelmed by the problems of living in a sin darkened world. 

Jehovah is a trustworthy Shepherd who always does what He says He will do. 

He is faithful and true and our hearts can safely trust in Him.

Only those who are born again are the sheep of the LORD's pasture.

Believers in Christ can rest and reflect upon the goodness of the LORD as He feeds our soul and tends to our needs.

Anytime that we are overwhelmed, downcast or have gone astray, we can run to Christ and He will restore and revive our soul.

We can bask in His comforting presence as we endure the trials, afflictions and troubles of this life.

We can rejoice in His abundant mercy and lovingkindness to us.

We can praise the LORD for His promise of eternal life with Him in heaven.

Bob