Imagine a couple, married for decades, who has an anniversary coming up. The husband makes reservations at his wife's favorite restaurant weeks in advance and tells her they will celebrate their anniversary in style. In anticipation of the celebration, the wife gets her nails done and excitedly purchases a special outfit.
Now, suppose they get in the car and head to the restaurant on this highly anticipated evening. When they arrive, the husband drives straight to the door. "What a gentleman," the wife thinks as she waits for him to open the car door for her. She gets out and walks into the restaurant as her husband drives away. After being seated, she sits alone, waiting for her husband to enter.
After several awkward minutes, she thinks her husband must be having trouble finding a parking space. A few more minutes pass, and she becomes concerned that something has happened to him. Finally, she picks up her phone to call him. "Where are you?" she asks. In a settled tone, her husband answers, "I'm eating at my favorite restaurant tonight while you eat at yours. Enjoy yourself! I'll pick you up in an hour."
Would any wife on the planet count this as an anniversary dinner? Absolutely not! But why? He was thinking of her. He planned what he knew she would enjoy. He even dropped her at the door! Why, then, does the wife, instead of feeling cherished, feel abandoned? Because she is not with her husband. It is not what is on the menu; it is his presence that makes the meal special.
It is one thing to eat a meal that has been provided for you. It is quite another to share that table in warm companionship with another whom you adore and love. It is not just about alleviating hunger but about the relationship and meaningful conversation. In Psalm 23:5, David conveys that yes, the Lord as our Shepherd provides for our needs, but it goes deeper and means something richer than that. He not only feeds us, He welcomes us to His table.
Throughout this Psalm, David has made use of the shepherding metaphor. However, verse 5 introduces what some believe to be a departure from the previous verses. This literary shift has created a bit of debate among Bible teachers, not so much in the application but regarding David's intent. Is he leaving behind the shepherd metaphor? Why has he changed the setting to that of a gracious host at a dinner party?
These verses describe the preparation of a meal, the special treatment of the guest, and the overflowing cup of hospitality. Though there may be a purposeful shift in theme, this does not mean that the imagery of the shepherd must be left behind. It is helpful to recognize that one of the ways the Lord shepherds us is in His generous provision.
When David writes, "You prepare a table before me," there are overtones that still relate to a shepherd and his sheep. The Lord shepherds His people by serving as a gracious host. Sharing a meal with someone isn't just about satisfying hunger but about building relationships. It isn't just about provision; it is about intimacy. David makes a clear distinction between mere sustenance and the welcoming fellowship of a dinner provided just for you.
John 14:2 echoes this description of the Lord's provision when Jesus says, "In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” The reality of heaven and its greatness is not just that you have a place to go when you die. It is the fulfillment of the promise of Jesus that "where I am, you will be also." We will have fellowship with our Lord at the marriage supper of the Lamb… and He is preparing it even now.
Our gentle and loving Shepherd of Psalm 23 becomes a fierce defender when enemies arise. As previously noted, sheep have many enemies, including the environment, predators, and even each other. Traditionally, in the Middle East, as spring ended and summer approached, the shepherd would begin the long journey out of the valley and back up the mountain. As you may have expected, there was work to do in preparation.
First, the shepherd would survey the land to ensure ample grazing was available. He also looked for threats, not only predatory animals but a new danger: poisonous weeds. The sheep, unable to distinguish between an edible plant and a poisonous one, needed the shepherd to prepare the grazing landscape. A tiny taste of a toxic plant could cause a small sheep to stiffen up and die very quickly.1
Again, Philip Keller is insightful as he observes that this particular task required a lot of bending and pulling. Though tedious and tiring, it was essential to the flock's survival. This devoted shepherd was literally preparing the table in the presence of the enemies. He was protecting and defending his sheep, creating a safe environment in which they could relax and enjoy the nourishment he provided.2
Enemies come in many forms in our lives as well. Our relationship with the Lord does not always shield us from the wickedness of the world. However, living a life of devotion to Christ can diminish the potential for trouble.
Following God's standard for holiness helps us to avoid personal pitfalls to be sure, yet it does not immunize us from the pain of this life. There is no guarantee that things will go our way just because we read our Bibles and pray. Following Jesus is not a religious ceremony to be practiced for worldly gain. That is not the gospel. You may not get the house. You may lose a friend. Your dreams may not come true. You might not always win. Yet, no matter what enemy threatens, the Shepherd is always present. He will never leave you or forsake you. He is a very present help in times of trouble. That, dear friend, is the promise of the gospel.
Some may profess to be Christians, only to fall away when enemies arise. 1 John 2:19 explains, "They went out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had been of us they would have continued with us." True believers endure in the face of opposition. In the world today, many so-called Christians are never truly converted, walk away from the faith, and then publicly trumpet the reasons for their departure. The reason is often because life didn't work out like they hoped. The gospel is simple and straightforward. Humans are sinners bound for hell. In grace, we were rescued from the wrath of God. Christ is now ours, and heaven is our home.
In the ancient world, a mark of warm hospitality included welcoming a guest into one's home by providing oil or perfume to cleanse their heads, hands, and feet from the dust of a journey. Perhaps this is what David had in mind, evoking the idea of the gracious hospitality of the Lord as a welcoming host. Yet the shepherd in him would always return his thoughts to the pasture. Shepherds, too, used oil in a very purposeful way for the good of the sheep.
One of the harsh realities of sheep life in Israel was nasal flies. Though the following few sentences may be off-putting, it is important to explain this unpleasant reality as the use of oil is significant. These flies were not only a nuisance that buzzed around the head of the sheep, but they were also a danger. As Keller explains, making their way into the nasal passages of the sheep, they would deposit their eggs, which, when hatched, produced larvae that would live inside the sheep's head. In great misery, the poor sheep would repeatedly bang their head on a hard surface to alleviate the pain. The shepherd had to step in on their behalf as they could not defend themselves from potential invasion.3
Oil applied by the shepherd made a profound impact on the life of the flock. Carefully applied to the nose of the sheep, it protected them by repelling the flies. One by one, each sheep would receive an anointing straight from the hand of their shepherd for their good and well-being. How patient and intentional this shepherd had to be!
This same oil also served to heal wounds in the form of a skin condition known as scab. A highly contagious, irritating disease common among sheep, it originates with a microscopic parasite. It could quickly spread among the flock when infected sheep rubbed their heads against one another as a sign of affection.4
Remember the rod the shepherd used? This would be the case in which he would use it to part the sheep's wool to check for scab. Once detected, the shepherd had his work cut out for him. He would create a small reservoir for dipping. One by one, he would submerge each animal, head and all, into this oily substance.
Another use of this oil was to protect the sheep from each other.5 At times, there was conflict within the flock. Oil applied to the head meant that even though the sheep may butt their heads together, they would glance off of each other, uninjured. As David wrote about the usage of oil in the dinner setting, we can be confident that he also had these remedies in mind, recalling his days in the pastures, anointing and protecting his beloved sheep.
In part, we are honored guests, and the Lord anoints our heads with oil like a gracious host who says, "Welcome to my home! Wipe the dust from your face, enjoy this meal I prepared just for you." But in another aspect, we are needy sheep. We need the protective anointing of our Shepherd to shield us, heal us, and protect us from ourselves. He knows how and when to provide. Sometimes, it is the oil of refreshment that is needed. On other occasions, the oil of protection and even, at times, the oil of conflict resolution is necessary. The Lord knows exactly what we need. He anoints our heads with oil for whatever purpose may arise.
In this scene, the guest, seated at the table of the gracious host, enjoys a continually overflowing cup. The host of Psalm 23 is not concerned with time. He does not desire His guest to leave—quite the opposite! He is discouraging His guest's departure by generously filling His cup! His actions tell the guest, "Your company is enjoyable. You are welcome here." This is the very best blessing at the Lord's table.
Picture the cup, not only full but overflowing to the point that the drink is puddling on the table and dripping onto the floor. The guest is joyfully shouting, "My thirst has been quenched!" Yet the host keeps pouring more. That overflowing cup conveys that you are a beloved friend. You are not only welcome at the Lord's table, you are urged to remain. You can never overstay your welcome. Yes, the world may forsake you, but your Father welcomes you at His table—in His presence—forever.
References
[1] Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,104.
[2] Ibid, 105.
[3] Ibid, 114.
[4] Ibid, 117.
[5] Ibid, 121.