At God’s Table Our Cup Overflows

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭5

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my he

ad with oil; my cup overflows.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God is so vast and infinite that He presents Himself to us in many different ways. No one metaphor can convey the whole of who He is and what He does. Scripture presents God as our powerful Creator, reigning King, and redeeming Savior. Moreover, He is also our loving Father, strong Rock, and safe Refuge, and a myriad of other images. Each of these pictures communicates a unique and important aspect of our awesome God and our relationship to Him. 

Though we may be afflicted on all sides, pressured, perplexed, and persecuted for righteousness sake, we have not been forgotten or abandoned by our Heavenly Lord for Jesus is with us always and forever, even to the end of the age.

He has prepared a table before us, in the presence of those that hate and despise us, and He has covered it with all we need and every spiritual blessing which He purchased for us through His own blood, on Calvary's Cross.

Though we live in the war zone of this fallen world system, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and the peace of God which guards our hearts in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

The anointing oil that is poured over our heads is the soothing ointment of His never-ending love. It is a precious promise to all His children, for we have been made kings and priests of the living God and have a guarantee that His Word is true and His promises are Yes and Amen in Christ.

David writes, “You prepare a table before me.” We would normally think of David rendering service to God. But here, he states the total opposite, God is attending to his needs. The setting is a large banquet hall, and God is preparing a lavish table in order to serve David a meal fit for a king. 

The word  “prepare” means to arrange, to set in order, to set in place; to ordain. Here, God is understood to be setting the table before David and putting everything into its right place.

Remarkably, David adds that God’s exquisite meal is served in the presence of my enemies. He pictures himself as seated at a large banquet table with many people seated around him. Among these other attendees are David’s enemies, in the plural. These many adversaries are seated close to him, while the Lord is serving him. 

David continues, “You have anointed my head with oil.” This may refer to the practice of the host receiving a weary guest who has walked some distance under the hot sun by pouring sweet-smelling oil on the head. If so, this pictures the refreshing graces of God that revive his parched soul in the midst of life’s heated trials. 

Finally, David adds, “My cup overflows,” referring to the continual outpouring of God’s fullness into David’s life. He learned that God’s supply far exceeds His need. He was not given mere mercy drops from heaven, but a deluge of grace far more than he could ever comprehend. 

By way of analogy, this is how David sees the Lord caring for him. God is feeding him the meat of His word. He is pouring His truth into David’s soul to bring him much joy and peace.  Never has David been so satisfied.  

The same service is available to all believers. We are all given a place in the royal banquet hall and treated like a guest of the King. Throughout this feast, the Lord’s eye is upon us, anticipating our every need. In His perfect timing, He is bringing to our table exactly what we need, precisely when we need it. Here is His incomparable love in action. 

God was so lavish in pouring out His goodness into David’s life that his cup could not contain it. His heart was overflowing with divine provisions. This speaks of the fullness of blessing that God has for him and for all believers.

I want to remind you that God is not miserly towards you, but has opened His vast storehouse and is pouring out grace upon grace on your life. 

This was David’s testimony, and may it be our experience. May we know what it is to have a seat at the table in the Father’s house and be served by Him. May we open our hearts and take in the fullness of what He has for us. This is how great it is to know the Lord.

Surely with David we can proclaim, "My cup of blessing runneth over," for His grace is limitless, His love is boundless, and His mercy endures from one generation to another!!!

Father, thank You for this day and how we praise and thank You for Your Word and the comfort and strength it gives us. Lord, let Your abundant blessings fall from the windows of heaven upon my friend and family today. Lord, thank You that You are our Shepherd and our Provider. Lord, You are with us through the darkest days as well as during the sunny times, and thank You that You have provided all that we need, according to Your riches in glory. Lord, thank You that You are our God and Saviour. You have, indeed, prepared an overflowing table before us in the presence of my enemies and have anointed my head with the oil of gladness. Our cup overflows with Your never-ending blessings, for which we praise and thank You. Lord use us today to proclaim Your Goodness and mercy to all.

Father, we love You.  Amen !