Dirty, Smelly… and Honoured!

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5 (ESV)

 

During January we were exploring Psalm 23 together. Undoubtedly one of the most well-known psalms, it has been a source of comfort and inspiration to its readers and hearers throughout the centuries.

One of the interesting things we noticed straight away is in the very first few words. The Lord, in other psalms, is described as ‘the king of glory’ and  ‘strong and mighty’ (Psalm 24), with a thunderous voice so powerful it can damage the surroundings! (Psalm 29) Yet here, David sees the Lord as a shepherd- a nurturing carer, companion and guide. Our mighty God is willing to come down to our level- hanging about with dirty, smelly sheep- anticipating and understanding their needs and leading them to pastures and waters which will lead them to rest in Him.

Then in verse 5, these dirty, smelly sheep are honoured, in full view of all those who despise them most! God has prepared a table in the midst of trouble, where it is probably least expected! The oil and the cup flowing over are symbols of the high status of the guests who have been invited. God’s statement is ‘these precious ones are mine’. Jesus, in John’s Gospel, echoes these sentiments when he calls himself ‘the good shepherd’, explaining how he has ‘come to give life’ to his flock and is even ‘prepared to die’ for them, adding that his sheep know his voice.

What comes into your head when you think about a table which God has furnished for you? Does the trouble He is prepared to go to surprise you? We at YouBelong hope that when reading this Psalm, you might get a glimpse of that comfort and inspiration so many generations have had. Also, just possibly, you might find a table of rest and provision prepared for you in the middle of your situation.