WORSHIP REFLECTIONS are weekly devotionals based on worship songs/hymns. Our hope is that this content encourages your love and adoration of Christ Jesus as you grow in closer communion with Him through personal worship.
David Manner, Executive Director, Kansas-Nebraska Baptist Convention, presents this worship song devotional based on the song "He Will Hold Me Fast".
Psalm 23:5
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to teach at Kenya Baptist Theological College in Nairobi, Kenya. After teaching we got to go on a three-day safari on the Maasai Mara in Kenya. On the first morning we stopped for Tea Time on the bumper of our Land Cruiser. Our guide/host prepared a table before us on the bumper. Tea Time in Kenya is a throwback to two colonial influences, the high tea tradition from Britain and Chai tea from India.
As American guests here is what we didn’t know. That near where our host(guide) literally prepared a table for us… we were in the presence of our enemies. We didn’t know we were that close to a lion but our guide did and knew how to keep us safe so that we could eat without fear because a place had been prepared for us.
Isaiah 40:10-11 See, the Lord God comes with strength, and his power establishes his rule. He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. So, our shepherd holds us fast in the folds of his garment.
“You anoint my head with oil;”
In Ancient Israel, Shepherds used oil for three purposes with their sheep.
To repel insects.
To minimize conflicts.
To heal wounds.
TO REPEL INSECTS - Sheep are especially tormented by the nose fly or nasal fly. These flies buzz around the heads of the sheep and crawl up their noses to deposit their eggs in the mucous membranes of their noses.
The eggs hatch and worm-like larvae burrow up the nasal passages into the sheep’s head causing irritation and inflammation.
Keller says because of the irritation, the sheep will deliberately beat their heads against trees, rocks, or brush and in cases of intense infestation might even kill itself trying to get some relief.
Much like we use mosquito repellent in Kansas when they start showing up seasonally. With the first sign of these flies, the Shepherds would create a repellent mixture of oil and maybe Sulphur and anoints or covers the heads of the sheep with the oil repellent to keep the flies away.
TO MINIMIZE CONFLICTS - Shepherds also use oil to minimize conflict
As summer turns into Fall the sheep move into the rutting or mating season.
In an effort to impress the ewes, the rams begin strutting around the pasture to gain favor with the ewes. Those rams start butting heads with each other in such a violent manner that it can maim or even kill some of them.
So, to protect these butt heads the shepherd smears oil or anoints the heads of the rams with oil so instead of butting heads with full force, they glance off each other in such a way that the conflict is minimized enough that they stop battling and the tension is minimized.
TO HEAL WOUNDS Sheep are around rocks, thorns, brush, and potentially predators, or they butt heads with each other… so they often get hurt, or cut, or scratched. So, the shepherd anoints those wounds with oil as a healing balm or salve.
Since the sheep often get hurt, the Shepherd inspects them daily for any injuries to treat them before they get too serious.
How often do we need The Good Shepherd’s preventive care in our own lives to protect us from those relational, family, work, and even church irritants and disappointments that if not treated with God’s anointing antidote of grace could fester into something way more dangerous.
How often have we needed, especially in this last two years that Shepherd’s anointing oil as we’ve regularly butted-heads with each other relationally and politically not only out there in culture, but also in here with each other at church.
Some of the deepest hurts in our Christian lives are the result of butting heads with other believers.
Some of us have been deeply wounded over the last couple of years and need that anointing oil of the shepherd.
Or maybe just through the normal circumstances of life we have been hurt or wounded and need the Shepherd to inspect those areas of our lives daily to anoint us with that healing salve of his unmerited favor.
The Psalmist says that the Good Shepherd “heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Finally, David ends verse 5 by saying,
“My cup overflows.”
As Shepherd he protects us more often than we deserve. As Host, he provides more than we need.
A great host would make sure that the cup of the guests was always full. If a host was ready for the guest to leave, He or she would stop filling up their cup. But if a host wanted a guest to stay, he or she would not only fill it to the brim but fill it up until it spilled over.
Jesus as our Good Shepherd said, “I have come so that they(we) may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10
So, David ends verse 5 by reminding us that the Lord is a Shepherd and Table Host who not only provides more than we need, He also protects us, serves us, protects us from danger, renews us, and heals us way more often than we deserve.
“For our savior loves us so, and he will hold us fast.”