By Donnie Swaggart

Psalms 23:5-6 — “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 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.”

As I related in my last two articles, the great Twenty-third Psalm was written from the perspective of the sheep. We are given a beautiful glimpse of the care and love our Heavenly Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has for us, His Sheep.

 The phrase, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,” tells us that we will have enemies who will try to destroy us. These enemies, which are demon spirits, come to war against the sheep. Not only to war, but to destroy us; however, Jesus said in John 10:10: “The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

So we have these enemies, yet in the very midst of the attack, He will “prepare a table for us.”

The word “prepare” or “preparest” is very important, for it gives us insight to the length and degree the Shepherd will go, in order to provide and protect us, His Sheep.

Exodus 14:14 says it this way: “The LORD shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Simply put, He fights while we eat. No matter what Satan brings against us, no matter how wily and ingenious his evil plans may be, our Shepherd has already prepared a place of safety and provision.

 The phrase, “You anoint my head with oil,” refers to the following: Sheep have teeth only on their bottom jaw. They have none on the top jaw, so they cannot eat grass like other animals. When looking for food, they have to move their heads in a scooping motion, which causes them, at times, to scrape and cut the top of their heads.

Every night the shepherd inspects the foreheads of the sheep. He will then pour oil on those who have injured themselves.

For those of us who become injured in our journey of life, we have the assurance that “there is a balm in Gilead.”

 The Shepherd not only anoints our head with oil, but He also gives us water to satisfy our thirst. Notice the Text says the cup “runs over.” This speaks of overflowing, a bountiful supply, or liberally giving. Simply put, our Shepherd provides for us more than enough to live.

 The phrase, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,” speaks of what the shepherd will do for all of his sheep. Goodness is the stream, Mercy is the fountain; Goodness is the open Hand of God’s bounty, Mercy is His loving Heart.

As an aside, we must never forget that as the Lord continually bestowed upon us His Goodness and His Mercy, then we are to show the same to others also.

 The phrase, “And I will dwell in the House of the LORD for ever,” carries the idea of Eternal Life. All Believers are looked at by the Lord as His House (I Cor. 3:16). So, if we want to dwell in His House forever, then He will dwell in our house forever! What a Promise, what a Blessing!

 

Your Evangelist, Donnie Swaggart