Reflections on the 23rd Psalm - the Welcoming Host
God welcomes us into his household with extravagant hospitality
We began looking at the 23rd Psalm a couple weeks ago. We noticed that the Psalm is divided into 2 parts with totally different images of our relationship to God: God is our Shepherd, vs. 1-4, and God welcomes us into His household, vs. 5-6.
The first image of God as Shepherd is examined in the first 2 posts linked here, if you missed them: the Shepherd's provision, the Shepherd's protection.
This weekend I wanted to look at the second image the Psalmist paints for us regarding the extravagant hospitality God shows to those whom he welcomes into his household.
But first, look closely at the first part. David is talking about God in the third person: “He leads me by still waters.” “He renews my life.” “He leads me in right paths.”
But notice in verse 4, David begins directly addressing God in the second person: Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me;
It is in the deep, dark valley that the Shepherd’s presence is most personally felt by his sheep.
Welcome to My House
The image that David is painting of God changes, but his direct address continues:
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live. Psalm 23:5–6 (HCSB)
Verse 5 is a vivid picture of a host welcoming a guest in the customs seen in David’s and Jesus’ time.
A Feast
Providing a meal for your guest was at the top of the list of what you would do if you were going to make your guest feel welcomed in those days.
A good example of this is in a parable of Jesus about a man who had a wayward son who decided to return home. The father was so excited he ran out to meet the son and gave him the honor of killing the fattened calf that was kept for the most special occasions, times when the father would want an honored guest to feel especially welcomed. Take a look:
But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Luke 15:22–24.
So David finds himself in God’s presence and God is preparing a feast for him! Amazing! God is receiving David as a special guest! That seems amazing to contemplate. But that feast is not just for David. It is for all of those God receives into his household.
Jesus was speaking to his disciples one day and he let them know that if they are faithful he is planning to prepare a feast for them as well:
“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.” Luke 12:37
It is amazing to consider that the creator of the universe will put on his apron and serve us a feast when he returns!
Anointing
“You anoint my head with oil”
Modern readers in the West don’t know what to make of this sentence. But in David’s time anointing was an act of hospitality. At the time, walking was the primary means of getting from one place to another. When someone arrived at their destination after walking for hours in an arid, dusty climate, they would be very dry and covered with dust; especially their feet in sandals. It was customary, if you truly welcomed your guest, that you would provide water for their feet to be washed and you would provide olive oil to soothe their dried and possibly sunburned face. It was the custom of the Jews to anoint themselves with oil, as a means of refreshing or invigorating their bodies.
Jesus was invited to eat at a Pharisee’s house one day. Apparently the Pharisee was not wholehearted in his invitation because he didn’t provide water for Jesus to wash, nor did he provide the refreshing anointing of olive oil that was customary (Luke 7:44-46).
But when we enter the Lord’s household, he not only prepares a feast for us , but he also refreshes us after our difficult journey by anointing us with the oil of gladness (Isaiah 61.3).
The Overflowing Cup
“My cup overflows”
Again, just like in the image of the Shepherd, we see the abundance of God’s provision. Overflowing. More than what we need.
Goodness and Covenant Love PURSUING
This is my favorite part of the Psalm. David sees the goodness and the steadfast love of God pursuing him for the rest of his life! The King James Version translated the word here “follow”, but newer translations pick up the original meaning of pursuit. God’s love isn’t just following us around from a distance. No way! He is pursuing us.
Jesus’ pursuit of us took him all the way to dying a criminals death so that we could be set free to be welcomed into his presence. He offers eternal life to all who repent and trust in Him. You don’t wait until you die to have eternal life. Eternal life can start right now!
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