Psalm 23 Excerpt From Heart of a Psalmist

This literally happened to David as he fled from the armies of his rebellious son Absalom: “ When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi…They brought him sleeping mats, cook- ing pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey butter, sheep, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, ‘You must all be very tired and hungry and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.’”(2 Sam. 17:27-29) God has provided a table for us as we journey to our heavenly home, it is the Lord’s Supper that we do in remembrance of him. Because Jesus our shepherd laid down his life for us we can receive the daily refreshing oil of the Holy Spirit. Philip Keller explains the ‘anointing’ in a very practical way: “I always preferred to use a homemade remedy composed of linseed oil, sulfur and tar which was smeared over the sheep’s nose and head as a protection against nose flies” 4 . The anointing of the sheep’s head was also to prevent the spread of ‘scab’ a highly contagious disease among flocks. The oil of the Spirit is spiritual and practical, enabling us to live a more abundant life. “ You anoint my head with oil; ”(5)

“ My cup runs over.” (5)

Because Jesus drank the cup of suffering and death we can now drink the cup of communion and receive the benefits of salvation: “ When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16)

“ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; ”(6)

Goodness and mercy are like twin shepherd ‘dogs’ used by the Shepherd to help guard and guide his flock. Spurgeon says of this passage: “These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck…’goodness’ supplies our needs, and ‘mercy’ blots out