Date: (3/13/15)
Week: # 5
Title: (Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.)
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for Your grace and mercy today. Our desire today is to study Your Word, so we can show ourselves approval unto You. We study to keep Your Word. We study to know You more. We study to get knowledge, understanding, and wisdom to live a godly life. Teach us this day all about You preparing a table before us in the presence of all our enemies. Anoint us today so we can do the work of evangelist, and unbeliever can come to You for new life. We praise You for who You are and what You do to protect us as we spread Your Word. We are blessed when we spread Your Word, we are filled with joy, and all our needs are meet. Thank You, Lord. We ask that You bless everyone who read or study this bible study. Bless them to receive what they need. Bless them to be healed from any sickness. Bless them to receive jobs if they need one. Bless them their families. Bless their community. Bless everything about them. Supply all their need according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus, our Lord. Thank You Lord. This we pray in Jesus' name. AMEN.
Text: Psalm 23:5, "5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows." This is A Testimony of Safety.
With this verse the image of the Psalm suddenly changes. We are no longer in the field but in a palace. The Lord is now the gracious host. He prepares a table. He anoints the head, and He pours a cup. Our perception of God will determine our personal relationship with Him. God wants us to know that He has welcomed us and that He loves us. In this verse we see three marks of God's great love and hospitality.
1. The Preparation of The Table - How important and special we are to Him. He prepares the table.
Table does not necessarily refer to a piece of furniture but the word simply means "something spread out." Flat places in the hilly country were called tables and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these tables and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the fold.
Ps 78:19. "Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?"
David refers to table as the entire high summer range, normally in remote and hard to reach places. Before the shepherd would lead his sheep there, he would make preliminary survey trips in order to prepare the way for his flock.
While there, the shepherd would check to see if there were poisonous weeds and he would take drastic steps to eradicate them. Often, he would find beautiful flowers that were a deadly menace to sheep. The Shepherd also had an eye for predators: wolves, coyotes, cougars, and bears. Therefore, he would go ahead of them and hunt or track these predators. He would also clear out any water holes, springs, and drinking places for his flock. I hope by now you get the picture. The shepherd makes all the necessary preparations in order to offer the best of care for his flock.
2. The Anointing of The Head - A wealthy home would have had an expensive vessel of perfumed oil by the door. It would be used for special occasions when distinctive company came to visit. If a wonderful friend from far away, or a loved one dear to ones heart would pay a visit, they would be greeted at the door, hands The host would dip his hands into that precious ointment and the head of the incoming guest anointed. This act meant that they were very special. This is truth: you are special to God!
How easy it is for there to be a fly in the ointment of even my most lofty spiritual experience. So often it's the small, petty annoyances that ruin my repose; speaks of distraction or irritations in my own life. Yet, here is my Shepherd (the Lord Jesus) with a fresh application of His antidote; a renewed application, a continuous anointing of God's gracious Spirit. Psalms 92:10 "But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox; I have been anointed with fresh oil." He, alone, makes it possible for us to react to aggravations and annoyances with quietness and calmness. Even as the flies almost drove the sheep crazy, the Shepherd was there to anoint them. Luke 11:13, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"
3. The Overflowing Cup - In Bible times, there were no motels and restaurants. It was the custom if a traveler stopped at ones house, they were to be given entrance and a meal prepared for them. However, no other obligation was expected from the host. Only a meal and then the traveler could be sent on his way. If the person dining with you were quite interesting, or you really wanted him to stay, you would tell him in so many words. You would fill his glass to overflowing. When he saw it he would look up and smile and thank you for the invitation. However, if you wanted him to leave, you would fill his glass half full. That meant that after dessert - hit the road traveler! The host in verse five is a picture of Jesus and of the blessings we receive from Him.
"My cup runs over" – speaks of the actual enjoyment of His abundant provision; no lacking. Why shouldn't our cup overflow? The only barrier to the enjoyment of the blessings of Ps 23 is a lack of trust in the Shepherd. Since the essence of the Christian life is others, it only stands to reason that when our "cup runs over," it overflows to others. Of special interest is the phrase, "my cup runs over." The Hebrew term suggests the idea of "saturation." What a marvelous expression! A "cup" is a drinking vessel, but in Scripture the term frequently is employed figuratively—either for an abundance of blessings, or else the pouring forth of intense wrath (cf. Revelation 14:10).
The former use surely is the significance of "cup" in this psalm. Elsewhere a psalmist asks: "What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the LORD" (116:12-13).
The same sort of symbolism is echoed in the New Testament when Christ described the reward of generosity: "[G]ive, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over" (Luke 6:38; see David's case in 2 Samuel 17:27-29 for an illustration of providential abundance). The words of the cherished song, "count your blessings; name them one by one," are sweet indeed, but it underestimates our blessings. The Christian could not completely compute his blessings in an entire lifetime!
Divine prosperity can be measured in at least three ways—physically, materially, and spiritually.
The Fullness We Have in Jesus: "Thou preparest a table..." Full sheep are happy sheep, but the sheep must have a table land prepared for them because of their enemies. The shepherd would go ahead from time to time to seek out and prepare safe feeding places. Think of the times when the Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus prepared the table.
Read Psalms 78: 19-22 and note the four different tables.
1. A table of Replenishment.
2. A table of Restoration
3. A table of Remembrance
4. A table of Rejoicing
The Freshness We Have in Jesus: "He anoints my head with oil.." David remembered how he would anoint the heads of his sheep.The oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians1:21-22, "Now He which stablisheth you in Christ, and hath anointed us is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." Thank God for the freshness of that anointing.
See Psalms 92:10 and Psalms 45:7.
The Freeness We Have in Jesus: "My cup runneth over." Our God is the God of more than enough. John 10:10, "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
In thinking about this statement, it is well to bear in mind that the sheep are approaching the high mountain country of the summer ranges. These are known as alplands or tablelands, so much sought after by sheepmen.
In some of the finest sheep country of the world, especially in the Western United States and Southern Europe, the high plateaux of the sheep ranges were always referred to as "mesas" -- the Spanish word for "tables." Oddly enough, the African word for a table is also "mesa" ... the use of this word is not uncommon in referring to the high, flat-topped plateaux of the continent.
So it may be seen that what David referred to as a table was actually the entire high summer range. Though these "mesas" may have been remote and hard to reach, the energetic and aggressive sheep owner takes the time and trouble to ready them for the arrival of his flocks.
Early in the season, even before all the snow has been melted ... he will go ahead and make preliminary survey trips into this rough, wild country. He will look it over with great care, keeping ever in mind its best use for his flock during the coming season. Then just before the sheep arrive, he will make another expedition or two to prepare the tableland for them. He takes along a supply of salt and minerals to be distributed over the range at strategic spots for the benefit of the sheep during the summer.
I can picture him [David] walking slowly over the summer range ahead of his flock. His eagle eye is sharp for any signs of poisonous weeds which he would pluck before his sheep got to them. No doubt he had armfuls to get rid of for the safety of his flock.
Another task the attentive shepherd takes on in the summer is to keep an eye out for predators. He will look for signs and spoor of wolves, coyotes, cougars and bears. If these raid or molest the sheep he will have to hunt them down or go to great pains to trap them so that his flock can rest in peace.
Often what actually happens is that these crafty ones are up on the rimrock watching every movement the sheep make, hoping for a chance to make a swift, sneaking attack that will stampede the sheep. Then one or other of the flock is bound to fall easy prey to the attacker's fierce teeth and claws.
Only the alertness of the sheep man who tends his flock on the tableland in full view of possible enemies can prevent them from falling prey to attack. It is only his preparation for such an eventuality that can possibly save the sheep from being slaughtered and panicked by their predators.
There is another chore which the sheep man takes care of on the tableland. He clears out the water holes, springs and drinking places for his stock. He has to clean out the accumulated debris of leaves, twigs, stones and soil which may have fallen into the water source during the autumn and winter. He may need to repair small earth dams he has made to hold water. And he will open the springs that may have become overgrown with grass and brush and weeds. It is all his work, his preparation of the table for his own sheep in summer.
Different Version: Week # 5 (RSV) Revised Standard Version
The Divine Shepherd A Psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 he makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters 3 he restores my soul He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Word of the Week (# 5) Plenty
1). Full Definition of PLENTY
a : a full or more than adequate amount or supply <had plenty of time to finish the job>
b : a large number or amount <in plenty of trouble>
c: the quality or state of being copious : plentifulness
God's Name: God is Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The Lord our Righteousness (Jeremiah 23:6)
(The above names fit this Psalm perfectly. Note how each name is in this Psalm.)
"Father God, You have so many wonderful Names. May I search out the Scripture and really get to know You by Your Names. Each one has a special meaning and gives me deeper understanding to Who You are. Reveal Your character to me today. Amen."
Question of the week: What provision does the Lord furnish in the presence of one's enemies?
Questions:
1). How do God prepare a table before our enemies?
2). Our perception of God will determine what in our life?
3). Can God prepare a table in the wilderness?
4). Why do God anoint us?
5). Who is the host in verse (5), and how do they invite us to the Kingdom?
6). What is the barrier to the enjoyment of the blessings God has provided for us?
7). Divine prosperity can be measured in at least three ways, what are they?
8). What are the four different tables prepared before us in Psalm 78:19-22?
9). Who stablish and anoint us for the work of ministry?
10). How do God protect us from the enemy?
11). Explain I Peter 5:8 in this lesson.
12). Who is the predator in the spirit?
13). Who is the sheep-man?
No comments:
Post a Comment