Welcome to My Beloved Shepherd Blog, a personal meditation on Psalm 23 in the Bible. Today we are looking at verse 5:
You anoint my head with oil.
My cup runs over
Cinderella
Lebron James
Ringo Starr
Lord of the Rings
Princess Diana
Mike Tyson
Arthur of the Round table
What do all these things have in common? It seems like a very diverse list, doesn't it? But in each of these examples, there is the story of a person who grew up in obscurity, perhaps poverty or abuse and extreme difficulty. And yet that person was able to overcome all of that and achieve stardom, royalty, and even stand on the pinnacle of success.
In the last blog, "The Sheep Elevator is going Up, Up, UP!" we looked at how the Shepherd took the sheep on a journey to the cool, lush tablelands for the hot summer. He brought them up to a higher place, a better place. He elevated them. But now, something even greater is going to happen. It is a peak experience, a mountain top transformation of such magnitude that the one who receives it is never the same. And it has everything to do with this line
You anoint my head with oil.
Take a look at the following sentence:
"Jenny really blossomed in her new position as creative director."
Anyone reading this understands the use of the word "blossomed" to mean that Jenny has really begun to shine and excel in this new job. We all know the word, blossom to mean when a flower is in bloom. The energy and beauty of that definition are automatically applied to the human being, Jenny.
In Psalm 23:5, we have the word "anoint." Every single Hebrew person in ancient times would instantly know the two meanings of this word.
The First Meaning
Anointing the sheep with oil was a common and essential practice and still is. The warmth of summer releases a fury of gnats, mosquitos, and especially flies who will torture sheep mercilessly by crawling in their eyes, up to their noses, and even into their mouth and laying eggs. It can weaken an entire flock if these pests are not dealt with. Every shepherd knows that the sheep must be anointed with an oil mixture to protect them. Modern sheep farmers use dip tanks where the entire sheep will be submerged until they are completely soaked to the skin. They even push their little heads under several times. The sheep seem completely fine afterward. This practice keeps the sheep happy and healthy.
The Second Meaning
I have so much joy flooding my heart to share with you the second meaning of the word anoint. When a person was anointed with oil, it was a ceremonial declaration of decreeing the office of King or Priest upon that person. Again, every Jewish person who heard this psalm in ancient times when it was written and recited would have known and recognized this second meaning. David, who was both a shepherd and a king was using this word in both ways. He himself had been anointed with oil to become Israel's king.
It's an interesting story. You can find it in I Samuel 16:1-13
Israel's king, Saul, had committed several serious sins as King. God decided to take the throne away from Saul and give it to another man. He told the High Priest Samuel to fill his horn with oil and head to Bethlehem. He was to meet up with the family of Jesse. One of Jesse's sons would be the next king.
When Samuel shows up, the townspeople are sure they've done something wrong but Samuel assures them that he's here to make a sacrifice and have dinner with Jesse's family. At that meal, Samuel looks at Jesse's oldest son. He is tall, handsome, mature, a leader and just the kind of guy you would think would make a good king. But God says, "Not the guy. You're looking on the outside, but I look at the heart." Samuel then went on to the next son and the next until there were no sons left. There wasn't a king among them.
"Are these all the sons you have?" Samuel asked Jesse.
"There is one other, the youngest who is out with the sheep."
"Well, go get him!"
While we're waiting for David to get in from the sheep, let's ask, why was David not at the dinner? Was there no one else to stay with the sheep? No, they were a wealthy family with helpers for the sheep. Was there just not enough food or room at the table? Was David just too much of an embarrassment because he was such a dolt? No, none of this was true. We know from other passages that the rest of the family rejected David. Perhaps there was a scandal concerning his birth. No one knows for sure. But what happened here is certainly typical for what David had experienced over and over.
When David showed up, the Bible says he was ruddy, probably meaning bubbling with health, handsome with beautiful eyes. He was probably a teenager. As soon as he came in, God said to Samuel, "That's HIM! Anoint him!" In the Bible, it says, "Samuel anointed David in the midst of his brothers." Ha, you mean old brothers!
David was just a kid of no importance or value, even to his family. Wow. Do you ever feel that way? I'm not special. Nothing to see here. Perhaps your own family devalued you to the point where you believed you had little worth.
With one act, God not only elevated David but transformed him. He made him something brand new. He gave him a new identity. And it wasn't just any old identity. He made him a king!
It's the Deal of a Lifetime!
This is what God has for all of us! He is taking us on this journey to transform us into royal priests!!!
This is confirmed in the New Testament, I Peter 2:9
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."
Whaaaaaaat? Royal Priests??? YES!!! God's plan is to give us the very best of the very best! He wants to lift us up to the highest. He wants to make our lives an on-going miracle of love and joy. And it's not just for some super Christian, perfect person. No, it's for you! It's for you. God deeply desires to give you this gift of the anointing to become something greater than you ever imagined.
So…
My Cup Overflows
Of course, your cup overflows! You’re not just a plain, old person anymore. You’re a kingly priest! You’re a priestly king! You are filled up with wonder and joy. You can't contain all the love and peace and goodness. It is flowing and gushing all over you. You are dancing in the rain of God's beautiful presence, soaked to the skin!!!
Do you want that?
Can you imagine feeling that?
What would your life look like if that were you?
It can be you. It's there for you. God WANTS to give it to you. He wants your cup to overflow with all the goodness He has for you. Remember those names at the beginning of this blog? People who were nothing but became the greatest. Your name can be on that list.
Oh please say Yes! Yes, Lord, I want that. Please give me that anointing!