you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Psalm 23:5b (ESV)
In the first part of Psalm 23, the Psalmist speaks about the Shepherd to us as he describes the goodness of his actions (e.g. “He makes”, “He leads”, “He restores”). There is a shift in his description as the Psalmist begins to walk through the valley of deep darkness. He changes from talking about the Shepherd to speaking with the Shepherd (e.g. “You are with me”, “Your rod”, “Your staff”, “You prepare”) and it is the same with the second half of verse 5. The Psalmist speaks to the Shepherd as he remembers that it is the Shepherd who anoints him with oil. It’s a wonderful picture of the extravagant generosity, care, and grace of the Good Shepherd as he lavishes these good things on his sheep. Even as he is reclining at table with the Shepherd in the presence of his enemies, the Psalmist tells us that the Shepherd anoints his head with a fragrant oil. An oil that brings healing to his physical body both through care and refreshment of his skin along with the reviving aroma he takes in through his senses. In this verse, you can feel the spirit of the Psalmist being lifted as he declares, “my cup overflows.” It wasn’t just a refreshing for that singular moment, it was a refreshing from the Shepherd to overflowing, meant to carry him onward in his journey.
Continue reading “Extravagant Anointing”