THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Imagine God preparing a table for you, while all your enemies watch. He puts the table cloth, then the plates, the glasses, the cutlery, the fruits, the food, the drinks, the sweets. Your favorite foods and desserts. A feast for you. Prepared by God. Like an expensive buffet in a 5 Star Hotel. There is so much.

But your enemies are waiting. Watching. They want to kill you, oppose you, accuse you, slander you, speak ill of you, but God is honoring you, serving you. So what can they do? Nothing! Rom 8:33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. They can do nothing, say nothing against the person whom God has decided to honor! Do not listen to Satan's lies.

Satan is our accuser. The enemy. He will do anything to take you away from God. Make you feel worthless. That you don't matter. That you cannot change. That you cannot be forgiven. That it is too late. All negativity comes from him. Feelings of hatred, anger, resentment originate from him. Desires for material things flow from him. Satan wants to press home his attack. But then he sees God (in you). He stands far off. He cannot attack. Because you are strong, filled with the Spirit, imitating Christ wherever you go.

How could David see this and feel this way? So secure in his understanding, so imaginative in his thoughts. It can only be because he had such a close relationship with God. Have you ever thought this way? Jesus has gone to prepare a room for you
1-3). God is preparing a feast for you, a banquet. We need to encourage ourselves with these thoughts, just like how you feel when you are going to a good friend's house for dinner..…or you go for a holiday and the hotel you stay in has an amazing room with a great view.

John 14:1-3
1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Not only does David see God preparing a feast for him, he says - You anoint my head with oil. Kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oil to set them apart as God's chosen leaders. David, the "man after God's own heart," is officially anointed with oil not once but three times.

1 Samuel 16:12-13
So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."

2 Samuel 2:4
Then the men of Judah came to Hebron and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. When David was told that it was the men of Jabesh Gilead who had buried Saul,

2 Samuel 5:3
When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel.

Psalm 89:19-21
19 Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: "I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have exalted a young man from among the people.
20 I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him.
21 My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him.

David welcomes his anointing. He loves it. He rejoices in it. It is a sign of God's confirmation in him. As a shepherd, David would anoint the head of the sheep with a certain type of oil to soothe scratches and wounds and to keep away insects and flies. It protected and healed them.

In much the same way, when we get baptized we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is a sign of God's presence that he comes and lives in us. It is a gift. There is nothing that we can do to earn it.

2 Corinthians 1:20-21
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Imagine this. We are of God. He has put his stamp on us..saying BELONGING TO GOD. How does that make you feel?

1 John 2:20
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.

It is a blessing that you know the truth about God when so many millions do not know. We show our gratefulness by sharing the truth with our friends and strangers that we pass by everyday. My cup overflows…… This phrase means that I am given even more than I need or can use. The words form a very powerful image of a cup of joy and happiness that overflows as there is so much of it. It means I am truly abundant, abundantly loved and cared for beyond even my needs or wants.

Have you ever wondered when you go to somebody's house how long you're supposed to stay and when you're supposed to leave? Or have you had someone come to your house and you didn't know how to tell them to "get lost". There is a custom in the Middle East that everyone knew when they had to go. It had to do with filling the cup. If you came to somebody's house, even if you were a total stranger (in the desert strangers take care of strangers), the first thing you do is offer them a cup of water or wine ... They drink the cup and you refill it. They drink that cup and you refill it. ... As long as the cup kept being refilled it meant you were welcome to stay. If you came to somebody's house and after several refills, they left the cup empty, it meant your time was up -- it was time to leave. If the host liked the person and wanted him to stay a long time, they would take the cup and fill it -- not only to the rim but they would let it overflow. You don't waste water or wine in the desert. But when an overflowing cup was shown it was a symbol that you can stay as long as you want. It meant you are special.

David sees God pouring into his cup and it overflows. God is telling him to stay, don't go. When God says to you, "I'm going to fill your cup to overflowing" it means that you matter to God and you're special to Him. Has someone hurt you? Offended you? Cheated you? Jesus invites you to a banquet. He says "I'll prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. I'll anoint your head with oil. Your cup will overflow." He will take care of you.

Think of all the blessings that you have received in your life and then try to realize that you have received blessings without you even knowing it, because God works through others also. Our blessings have been so numerous; we can't even begin to count them. God's love has no limit, His grace cannot be measured, and He is all powerful…as long as we strive to stay with Him, He gives and gives and gives again.

Conclusion

- Think positive thoughts. Encouraging thoughts. Loving thoughts. God's kindness. God's generosity.

- Take your family out for a nice meal this week. Or get together with 2 or 3 more families and have a joint dinner with lots of different dishes. Imagine what it will be like in heaven. Enjoy the meal together and share about God's blessings in your life.

- Philippians 4:8-9
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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1. For home work: Memorize Php 4:8-9

Philippians 4:8-9
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

2. Read Psalm 89. What specific things does God say about David?

3. Read 2 Corinthians 1:20-21. Remember your day of baptism. Who was there? What was it like? Call, write or email the brother or sister who invited you. Or studied with you.

2 Corinthians 1:20-21
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,

4. Read 2 Sam chapters 13 - 24.