Psalm 23:1-6 ESV 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 will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint 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.
The NLT says, You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
If we could just pause for a moment before going further and be reminded that David praises God as a shepherd who provides all he needs so he is not in want. David boasts of God leading him to green pastures, beside still waters, restoring life to David’s body, mind, and soul. David is so confident and at peace that even when going through the valleys where evil resides and death is possible, he does not fear. David is comforted by the presence and word of God. Now, in verse 5, David celebrates God’s extravagant, abundant provision, honor, and blessings, in the midst of his enemies.
V. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Meaning of text:
The Shepherd becomes the gracious host.
Theologians and Biblical scholars see a shift in metaphors, from shepherd and sheep to host and guest.
In verse 5, the imagery shifts from the pasture to a banquet hall. The Lord who shepherded David through the valley now receives him as an honored guest, preparing a table laden with food and drink. God does not merely get David through the valley; He generously provides for him.
Ross describes the scene as one where “a gracious host provides lavish hospitality.”
God Prepares the Table in the Presence of Enemies
Despite the presence of danger, the Lord set a table; God provided for him.
What makes the scene remarkable is where He prepares it: “in the presence of my enemies.” David is able to sit at the Lord’s table in peace and enjoy His provision.
The table becomes a picture not only of provision but of vindication. God demonstrates His care for His servant in the very presence of those who oppose him.
David has “cool assurance under pressure” because he has discovered God’s “infinite resources in the worst of situations.”
The Oil and Overflowing Cup Picture God’s Abundant Care
An honored guest would be welcomed and refreshed with fragrant oil. David experiences God’s welcome, refreshment, and honor as a guest.
The overflowing cup represents David’s lot or portion in life, and it isn’t merely full; it overflows!
The table, oil, and overflowing cup together paint a picture of abundance: God provides the table. God honors the guest. God fills the cup to overflowing. Remarkably, God does all of this while the enemies are still watching!
VanGemeren gives a beautiful summary: “In the presence of God, the fragrance of his rewards (‘oil’) and the bounty of his provisions (‘cup’) make one forget troubles and tears.” -W. A. VanGemeren
-VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, pp. 217–218). Zondervan Publishing House.
-Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 812). Victor Books.
-Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 129). InterVarsity Press.
-The Preacher's Commentary, Complete 35-Volume Set: Genesis – Revelation (Function). Kindle Edition.
Cultural Context Notes
“You prepare a table before me”
While the host metaphor comes in, the Shepherd metaphor is not lost, according to Phillip Keller. In the United States and southern Europe, the high plateaus of the sheep ranges are referred to as mesas–the Spanish word for tables. South Africa is known to hold the beautiful Table Mountain in Cape Town.
Before approaching the high mountain ranges and tables with a flock, a shepherd could take multiple trips alone to survey and prepare for the flock’s journey.
The shepherd may bring salt and minerals to distribute over the range. He will plot and plan out specific spots where they will camp and rest. He will inspect vegetation, look for water sources, and clear them to hydrate the flock. He will check for poisonous weeds to avoid or even pull. The shepherd will look for signs of predators and their dens. Ideally, the shepherd would like to avoid the predators altogether, but there are times this isn’t possible, so traps are set to protect the flock.
“You anoint my head with oil”
There are three predominant uses for oil on the head of sheep:
Pesky Insects
Shepherds have a saying, “summertime is fly time.” The myriad of insects that threaten sheep increase during the warm summer months. Sheep
Sheep are especially troubled by the nose or nasal fly. These flies attempt to lay eggs in the damp nostrils of a sheep’s nose. If successful, the eggs hatch to form a worm-like larva. These larvae will work their way up the nasal passages into the sheep’s head, burrow into the flesh, and cause intense irritation and severe inflammation…For relief, sheep will deliberately beat their heads against trees, rocks, posts, or brush. Unfortunately, sheep have gone blind or even killed themselves in the process (Keller, pgs. 102-103).
The deterrent or antidote is a mixture of linseed or olive oil, sulfur, and tar, smeared over the sheep’s head and nose. The difference in behavior following this treatment is almost immediately noticed. Sheep will go from frenzy to calm, eating, and resting.
The Scab
Scab is an irritating and highly contagious disease caused by a microscopic parasite that thrives in warm weather and is common around the world in herds. Unfortunately, scab spreads through the flock directly between infected and non-infected animals. But Sheep love to rub their heads together, and this is where scab is commonly found. So careful attention and quick action must be taken. In severe cases, Shepherds will dip the entire sheep in a tank but treat the head by hand (Keller, pg 105).
The Rut Season
As autumn creeps in, the season of the rut, of mating, and battles between rams to possess ewes are in full swing. These rams will strut around the pasture fighting furiously for the attention and favor of the ewes. These crashes can be heard throughout the day. To keep rams from injuring or killing each other, the shepherd will smear grease on their heads so that when they collide, the impact is lessened or they glance off of each other (Keller, pg 109).
Application
Kidner captures the movement from verse 4 to verse 5 powerfully: “It is one thing to survive a threat, quite another to turn it into triumph.” -Derek Kidner
Verse 5 gives us three images of God’s provision and blessings in our lives:
The table = God provides.
The oil = God refreshes and honors.
The overflowing cup = God blesses abundantly.
This also gives us three powerful truths of life with our Shepherd in the valleys:
1. God Provides in the Presence of Trouble
We do not have mountains without valleys, and even mountaintops come with their own challenges. The abundant life Jesus promised does not mean the absence of evil, temptation, suffering, or enemies.
The enemy still attacks and tempts us. We still contend with our fallen and imperfect world. The poisonous weeds of sin still entice our flesh. Storms still come and sometimes do damage. Pesky irritations and conflict will arise…
But the difference is that God's presence provides what we need in the middle of it. That is the remarkable picture of Psalm 23:5. God doesn’t remove the trouble before He prepares the table; God sets the table and meets our needs in the middle of the trouble.
Some of us focus so much on what surrounds us that we miss what God has set before us.
If we find ourselves overwhelmed by the trouble, the Word of God has given us a helpful action step: Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
2. God Refreshes and Honors His People
David’s original picture communicates the welcome, refreshment, and honor of a gracious host. Keller’s shepherding imagery gives us another helpful picture of God’s attentive care. The sheep faced flies, parasites, disease, irritation, and even conflict with one another. The shepherd knew what the sheep faced and gave them what they needed. Our Shepherd knows exactly what we are facing and what we need.
We have not been left defenseless against everything that irritates, infects, tempts, distracts, and divides us. God has given us His Word, His Son, and His Spirit. God provides and produces in us the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we need to overcome trouble.
Romans 12:2: Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Just as something contagious could spread through a flock by contact, attitudes, ideas, bitterness, and fear, ungodly thinking can spread from person to person. We need the continual renewing of our minds through God’s Spirit and Word.
So when the irritating things of life come, I don’t have to respond according to my flesh. When ideas and attitudes contrary to God begin influencing my thinking, I don’t have to allow them to infect my mind. When I’m worn down by jealousy, rivalry, offenses, and conflict that threaten relationships in the family of God, I don’t have to respond according to my flesh. I can be refreshed, walk by the Spirit, and even refresh others.
Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. God’s Blessings Overflow
David reaches the climax of abundance: “My cup overflows.” David doesn’t say, “My cup has just enough.” He doesn’t say, “My cup is half-full.” My cup overflows…
This speaks to the life that Jesus mentions in John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
You can be in a valley and still be blessed. You can have enemies and still have a table. You can experience sorrow and still know joy. You can walk through difficulty and still have peace. The presence of trouble does not mean the absence of God’s blessing.
The picture of Psalm 23 is not a Shepherd barely keeping His sheep alive; it is a God whose provision is abundant. This is important because we can easily measure God’s goodness by the absence of trouble. If God is blessing me, why am I going through this? If God is with me, why is this enemy still here? If God loves me, why hasn’t this situation changed? Our circumstances do not change the faithfulness of our God.
Romans 8:35;37 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?...No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
What has your attention, the enemies surrounding you or the table God has prepared before you? Don’t become so consumed by what surrounds you that you miss what God has set before you.
Closing
Jesus knows the valley
He was tempted as we are tempted. He knew suffering, sorrow, rejection, betrayal, and opposition. Isaiah calls Him “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.”
And ultimately Jesus walked through the darkest valley for us. He endured the cross for our sin and rose again so that we could receive the greatest provision God could ever place before us: salvation, eternal life, and fellowship with Him. And that makes the table imagery even richer. Jesus ate with His disciples and gave us the Lord’s Supper by which we remember Him. He promised that He would eat and drink with His people in His Father’s kingdom. And Revelation points us toward the marriage supper of the Lamb.
The Shepherd who provides for us in green pastures, walks with us through dark valleys, and prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies will one day bring us to a table where the enemies are gone forever.
Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Zondervan, 2007.
Salvation Prayer
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. Today I confess You as my Lord and put my trust in You alone. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again. Thank you for forgiving me and making me new. Lead me as I follow You from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion
Why do you think David emphasizes that God prepares the table in the presence of his enemies rather than after his enemies are gone?
How can prayer and thanksgiving, as described in Philippians 4:6–7, help us experience God’s peace when our circumstances have not changed?
John 10:10 speaks of Jesus giving us life to the full. How should we understand an abundant life when we still experience hardship, disappointment, or sorrow?
Pastor Ryan said, “The presence of trouble does not mean the absence of God's blessing.” What are some blessings we can experience even when life is difficult?
How can we guard against comparing our circumstances with those of others and assuming that someone with fewer struggles must be experiencing more of God's favor?
How can we pray together for you today?
If Jesus isn’t the shepherd of your soul, the Savior and Lord of your life, are you ready to make that decision today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!