My Cup Overflows (Psalm 23:1-6)
A Hindu proverb says, "If you cry because the sun has set, your tears will not let you see the stars (at night)."
As a Christian we may live sometimes in a painful situation, some other times in a sorrowful situation, but we should not be too much painful nor too much sorrowful, because we will never lose our Lord who is our good Shepherd.
Our Lord, as the God of grace and mercy, bestows His grace abundantly upon us.
As a Christian we may live sometimes in a painful situation, some other times in a sorrowful situation, but we should not be too much painful nor too much sorrowful, because we will never lose our Lord who is our good Shepherd.
Our Lord, as the God of grace and mercy, bestows His grace abundantly upon us.
David was one of the most beloved men by God in the Bible.
Although he was the last one among Jesse's eight sons and a shepherd, God let him become a king of Israel succeeding King Saul.
He was a man of prayer.
But his life was not so easy and peaceful.
During his lifetime, David was frequently chased by his beloved ones--by his father-in-law, Saul, and by his beloved son, Absalom, and by his men.
Thus, sometimes, his heart was broken very much, and he did not know where to go to hide himself from them.
Yet, David confesses: "I shall not want."
As the LORD is the good Shepherd, Jehovah-Roi and the Provider, Jehovah-Jireh, he believes that his shortage may be overcome sooner or later. Thus, he confesses that "I shall not want" in advance.
David prays for the guidance of God as He did in the past for him as the good Shepherd who made him lie down in green pastures and lead him beside still waters. As the good Shepherd, the Lord never forsook him nor betrayed him even when his beloved son and his closest friend forsook him and betrayed him.
Jesus tells us in John 10:14-15, "I am the good shepherd. I know my
own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep."Although he was the last one among Jesse's eight sons and a shepherd, God let him become a king of Israel succeeding King Saul.
He was a man of prayer.
But his life was not so easy and peaceful.
During his lifetime, David was frequently chased by his beloved ones--by his father-in-law, Saul, and by his beloved son, Absalom, and by his men.
Thus, sometimes, his heart was broken very much, and he did not know where to go to hide himself from them.
Yet, David confesses: "I shall not want."
As the LORD is the good Shepherd, Jehovah-Roi and the Provider, Jehovah-Jireh, he believes that his shortage may be overcome sooner or later. Thus, he confesses that "I shall not want" in advance.
David prays for the guidance of God as He did in the past for him as the good Shepherd who made him lie down in green pastures and lead him beside still waters. As the good Shepherd, the Lord never forsook him nor betrayed him even when his beloved son and his closest friend forsook him and betrayed him.
Our good shepherd Jesus Christ never forsakes us nor betrays us even when our close friends leave us or betray us.
He laid down his life for us on the cross.
Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday and today and forever was with us, is with us, and will be with us forever.
As David is chased by his beloved ones, his soul is troubled and he does not know where to go.
But, he believes that God, the good Shepherd, will restore or refresh his soul and will lead him in his right paths for his name's sake.
Jesus Christ came down to us to restore our souls and lead us in his right paths for his name's sake.
Have you ever walked through the valley of death--the most lonesome or disappointed path?
You feel that there is nobody who can get you out of there.
But, you need to know that there is God, Jehovah-Shammah who is there to rescue you from the deepest swamp in your life.
So David confesses: "I fear no evil, for you, my LORD, are with me."
A shepherd carries a rod and a staff. A rod is used to make a path throughout the bush or to take a sheep out of the bush or out of the thicket. And a staff is used to protect the flock from the attack of wild animals.
Thus, the sheep will not fear anything including wild animals when they are with their shepherd. Their shepherd comfort them.
According to the Israelite custom, a host of a house anoints his guest's head with expensive oil when his guest is a special person.
The LORD treats each one of us as a special guest in His house.
So, He anoints each one of us with most precious oil in His house.
This oil may mean God's blessings and grace upon us.
As the host of the universe, God blesses us who lean on Him and trust Him most with His abundant blessings.
What are the most blessings that God bestowed upon us?
He gave us his beloved Son Jesus Christ, and because of Him we are given salvation and eternal life.
So each one of us will confess in our every day life although sometimes it is a painful one,
"My cup, my life overflows with the blessings and grace of my Lord."
Our LORD is the God of goodness and mercy.
He shows his goodness and mercy when we seek Him in our despair or in sorrow.
As the good Shepherd as well as the Host of the heavenly house, He will always be with us throughout our entire lives.
So, what will you say about your LORD?
We will say: "The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want (=I have everything I need). As He is my heavenly host, my cup overflows. As His mercy and His goodness shall follow me all the days of my life, I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
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