A Table Prepared

God’s Blessings Overflow

1 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”

5”You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”
Psalm 23:1/5 NKJ.

My thoughts today are about, “a table prepared”

I can easily envision the picture suggested by the words, “a table prepared.” As a son and husband, I consider myself blessed. Among their many other gifts, my mom and my wife set a beautiful and bountiful table. I always knew that what they served would be lovingly prepared, beautifully presented, and predictably nourishing. So, it is easy to identify with the Psalmist’s description.

Possibly recalling his earlier days shepherding his father’s flocks on the Judean hillsides, David wrote, “For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” Psalm 95:7 NKJ. Notice David’s progression. David’s description quickly progresses from the broader oversight in the pasture to the Shepherd’s personal care, “the sheep of His hand.” Our Shepherd is personal and hands on.

God loves to relate to you, “up close and personal.” The Lord, who is our Shepherd, joyfully provides His personal presence and ample provision. He is neither random nor whimsical in what He does. He is knowable and foreseeable as He promises. Our Shepherd is always as He claims, and He does exactly what He promises. And all that He is and does is amazing.

As David reviews his life and reflects on God’s presence and provision, he sees the Lord in the context of his own early years as a shepherd of his father’s flocks. “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want . . 5”You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.” Psalm 23:I,5.

Look at the blessings. David describes the Good Shepherd this way. You provide for me in ways that bewilder my enemies. You honor me. You anoint my head. You overfill my overflowing cup. Your blessings exceed my capacity.

Whatever your circumstance for the moment, there are grand and unimaginable promises that await you. There are neither shortages nor impossibilities with God. There is never any lack of His grace. No equal to His mercies. No limit to His blessings. No challenge to His authority.

Like David, Paul was astounded but confident as he wrote, “God is able to do  immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 NIV. What a mighty God we serve.

“My cup overflows with blessings.”

No lack in His love. No failure of His faithfulness. No scarcity in His supply.

The Good Shepherd’s grace and generosity can be described in these words.

Beyond adequacy. Exceeding sufficiency. Overflowing liberality.

We should assert with Paul, “At the moment, I have all I need – and more!” Philippians 4:18. And all these blessings occur in an unlikely place, “the presence of my enemies!”

My prayer is that you celebrate the goodness and benevolence of the Shepherd.

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