“…you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)
Oh the generosity of the Good Shepherd! If you haven’t sensed it by now you need to revisit this Psalm several times today. The love and care of the Good Shepherd is lavished upon us…His sheep. He has held nothing back. He has made it possible for us to lie down in green pastures and leads us beside quiet waters. He refreshes us and calms our fears as we walk through the dark times in our lives. He protects us and even continues to feed us in the presence of our enemies. He tends to our wounds when we get ruffed up on this journey and has anointed us as His own. Wow! My cup overflows! How about yours?
Read through the Psalm again.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” (Psalm 23)
Our God is a generous giver. He gives without hesitation and in abundance to those He loves. He stands ready to bless His sheep. The most well known verse of all describes God as a giver;
“For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son…” (John 3:16)
Not only did He give, but He gave everything! He didn’t hold anything back. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was the clearest picture of God’s generosity and a demonstration of His love for us. In fact, it is only because of God’s generosity on the cross that we can have the relationship described in Psalm 23.
Before the cross our condition was dire to say the least. Scripture tells us that we were “dead in the trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). We were separated from our loving Father. But God provided the way. He bridged the gap! Scripture also says that , “the free GIFT of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:23). This gift…this way…this bridge is available because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross! We were sheep without a shepherd. We had all wandered and gone astray. Then Jesus took upon Himself the sin that separated us and made it possible for us to become His sheep…to become part of His flock…to experience the care of the Good Shepherd.
Paul expressed it best in Romans 8,
“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
Praise be to God…our generous Shepherd!