You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. (Psalm 23:5 NASB)
It was summertime, and the temperatures were rising quickly. The shepherd looked up the mountain and saw the nebulous, dusty cloud on its peak.
It would be another dry, dreadful summer in Judea.
He walked towards his flock, frowning while approaching the dirty sheep. The mosquitos and gnats that filled the Judean Mountains that time of the year were already plaguing the herd.
The sheep shook their heads, aggravated. They looked about, confused and unfocused.
The shepherd approached the herd – a bottle filled with the oily mixture in his hand. He walked around the sheep, pouring the oil on their heads, one by one, rubbing the greasy mixture into their wool. He took particular care to rub it around their nose, eyes and ears.
The mosquitos would soon leave the sheep alone to pasture… and follow their shepherd without distractions.
I imagine David remembered a day like the one I just described, as God gave him the words of one of the most cherished psalms in Scriptures.
We don’t know exactly when he wrote this psalm. Some scholars believe that he wrote it while hiding from his son Absalom in Mahanaim, because although he reminisces his time as a young shepherd, the psalm translates the experience of an older man who has endured persecution and imminent death.
Psalm 23 has a been a favorite for as long as I remember.
During my days as a catholic school girl, I remember reciting it and delighting in its poetic nuances. I memorized it for catechism, and read it on the open page of our large family Bible – a permanent display in my childhood’s living room.
It was my daddy’s favorite Psalm. It still is. And when I moved to America, I bought a little statue to remind me of its valuable truths.
But it wasn’t until the other day, when a friend pointed out this amazing visual, hidden in the words of verse 5, that I realized that God inspired David to use the imagery of a shepherd’s ritual to remind us that His anointing protects us from one of the most subtle schemes of the enemy against believers: petty distractions.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Indeed – God is in the business of protecting us from our mighty enemies, and promises to give us victory over giants. But that same God also offers to protect us from annoying, crippling distractions… {and sometimes, we don’t even realize how truly damaging they are!}.
You see – at first glance, mosquitos and gnats don’t look like more than simple distractions for the sheep, but the truth is, the result of their presence could range from simple irritation to disease, and even death.
Think about it for a minute. Let it sink in as David did while writing down these words.
How many Christians have you known, who have faced fierce battles and conquered mighty enemies, only to allow themselves to become distracted by annoying gnats that plague the flock?
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. (Song of Solomon 2:15 – NASB)
Solomon reflects on the very same issue on one of his songs – this time reminding his Beloved to catch little things that ruin a life that is in bloom.
Gnats. Mosquitos. Little foxes.
Small annoyances, distractions and compromises that cause many Christians to lose heart, stumble and fall, get offended, distracted and discouraged. Small things that, if not attended, can cause Christians to become victims of a much bigger animal: the lion that prowls around, looking for someone he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8)
Do you feel distracted today, my friend?
Maybe someone spread a rumor about you, causing your heart to be filled with anger and resentment?
Or perhaps you have allowed a small compromise to enter in – something oh-so-subtle – but that you know is distracting you from a walk of consistent faith and obedience?
Maybe you have a friend whose influence prevents you from seeking God’s best… or whose remarks make you doubt God’s calling for your life?
Or perhaps the enemy’s minions are filling your ears with the annoying buzz of distracting lies:
“You’re not worthy.”
“God will never use you.”
“You are not loved.”
“God did not really say….”
“Go right ahead. Follow your instincts… You’ve waited long enough.”
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
If that is you today, let the shepherd-king remind you: God wants to anoint your head with oil.
Not only to equip, strengthen, and prepare you for battle… But his anointing alone has power to drive away distractions… those little gnats that threaten to distract you just enough to change the course of your destiny.
Let His oil pour down.
Let it pour down from Heaven above.
Claim it, receive it and let it seal your ears, eyes, nose… Let it seal your mind and heart from all distractions, that you may focus as you follow your Shepherd to the green pastures He has prepared for you.
Then, and only then, can you truly proclaim: My cup overflows.
[bctt tweet=”Feeling distracted? Is it hard to hear God’s voice? Read this fresh perspective on Psalm 23.” username=”PatHolbrook”]
This ministered to me today; there are some little gnats that are trying to steal my attention but if I stay under his anointing I’m ok.
I am so glad it spoke to you, Nylse. Thank you for your encouragement! Blessings,
This ministered to me today; there are some little gnats that are trying to steal my attention but if I stay under his anointing I’m ok.
I am so glad it spoke to you, Nylse. Thank you for your encouragement! Blessings,
Wow! I love this! Thank you for helping me see this in a whole new way!
Thank you, Susan. I was also so excited when I read about this visual and the meaning behind it. Blessings!
Wow! I love this! Thank you for helping me see this in a whole new way!
Thank you, Susan. I was also so excited when I read about this visual and the meaning behind it. Blessings!
This is a beautiful post, Patricia. I’m going to spend some time today, letting the oil of blessing run down. Just what I needed to hear. Visiting from #raralinkup.
Thank you so much, Sarah! I was blessed to know this is what you needed today. God is so good! Glad you stopped by!! Blessings, sister!
This is a beautiful post, Patricia. I’m going to spend some time today, letting the oil of blessing run down. Just what I needed to hear. Visiting from #raralinkup.
Thank you so much, Sarah! I was blessed to know this is what you needed today. God is so good! Glad you stopped by!! Blessings, sister!
Oh, those seemingly innocuous distractions can too often spell disaster for our Christian walk. Thank you for making us more aware of anything and everything that can detour us from focusing on God alone.
Blessings, Patricia!
Amen, Martha! We always need to be on the alert! God bless you, sister!
Oh, those seemingly innocuous distractions can too often spell disaster for our Christian walk. Thank you for making us more aware of anything and everything that can detour us from focusing on God alone.
Blessings, Patricia!
Amen, Martha! We always need to be on the alert! God bless you, sister!
Yes ma’am I have surely let those little distractions derail me in the last few weeks. Praying for that fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit to calm my spirit. When we’re distracted we’re the most ineffective. I love Psalm 23 and the way He restores our soul. Yours is the second thing I’ve heard about this Psalm this week with a sheep perspective : ) God is definitely getting my attention. God bless!
Nothing is by chance, for sure, Heather! There’s a reason why God is pointing you to this Psalm. It’s such an anointed piece of Scripture! Praying for you right now, that God will keep you focused! Blessings,
Yes ma’am I have surely let those little distractions derail me in the last few weeks. Praying for that fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit to calm my spirit. When we’re distracted we’re the most ineffective. I love Psalm 23 and the way He restores our soul. Yours is the second thing I’ve heard about this Psalm this week with a sheep perspective : ) God is definitely getting my attention. God bless!
Nothing is by chance, for sure, Heather! There’s a reason why God is pointing you to this Psalm. It’s such an anointed piece of Scripture! Praying for you right now, that God will keep you focused! Blessings,
I so needed this today. The distractions are coming in currently, at a time when I’ve been preparing for months and now about to launch, to serve the preparations. I can feel them shedding grains of doubt, as well as draining my energy to complete the work set out before me to serve to the table what I’ve been working on. I have Psalm 23 now open in front of me. Thanks for being God’s messenger today!
Praise God, Lynn. I am so grateful that this spoke to you today! Saying a prayer right now for you. May God keep you focused as you follow the Shepherd! Blessings,
I so needed this today. The distractions are coming in currently, at a time when I’ve been preparing for months and now about to launch, to serve the preparations. I can feel them shedding grains of doubt, as well as draining my energy to complete the work set out before me to serve to the table what I’ve been working on. I have Psalm 23 now open in front of me. Thanks for being God’s messenger today!
Praise God, Lynn. I am so grateful that this spoke to you today! Saying a prayer right now for you. May God keep you focused as you follow the Shepherd! Blessings,
Patricia, The Lord knew I needed to post behind you on Coffee for the Heart so I would read this! I really need to let His oil pour down on me today. Oh those stinkin’ gnats! Thank you for letting Him speak through you. You are making a difference! ~Alyson
Oh, Alyson! You so blessed me with your last comment! Thank you so much for stopping by and taking time to comment and encourage me in my journey. Blessings to you! 🙂
Patricia, The Lord knew I needed to post behind you on Coffee for the Heart so I would read this! I really need to let His oil pour down on me today. Oh those stinkin’ gnats! Thank you for letting Him speak through you. You are making a difference! ~Alyson
Oh, Alyson! You so blessed me with your last comment! Thank you so much for stopping by and taking time to comment and encourage me in my journey. Blessings to you! 🙂