Friday, January 28, 2022
Greetings, Dear Friends ~
I pray all is well with your soul on today. It is a blessing for me to be able to share today’s Selah posting, “Overflow.”
Consider what it means to experience the overflow or abundance of the Lord within the context of the 23rd Psalm and then Ephesians 3:20. Let’s reflect on these passages:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5, NIV).
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20, KJV).
We know that the Lord, as Shepherd, speaks throughout the 23rd Psalm. By the time the psalmist, David, writes verse 5, he has come to know the Lord’s blessings and care even in the face of adversity. A table, prepared, specifically for him . . . a table adorned with the best of everything . . . in the very presence of his enemies. Who would really take the time to sit and eat (openly) in full banquet-style—and in the presence of one’s enemies? This implies that one would lay down his (or her) sword to dine with the host, without feeling threatened or unsafe.
One source notes:
“A gracious host would anoint his guest by applying a soothing oil to the guest’s head. A shepherd would use oil to treat his sheep’s wounds. David may have been thinking about the Lord as his host or shepherd when he wrote, ‘You anoint my head with oil’ (Psalm 23:5). The cup David depicts as overflowing may refer to the brimming cup the host provided or to the large cup a shepherd used to give water to thirsty sheep. Either interpretation leads to the conclusion that the Lord provides for us more generously than the heart can desire” (Source: https://www.bibleref.com/Psalms/23/Psalm-23-5.html)
David was no stranger to being on the battlefield and the need to fight. Beginning with Goliath, he well knew what it was like to lead a military campaign against his opposers. In the midst of opposition, God was with David. There is no question regarding the Originator of the blessing. It is God—our Lord! David not only experienced vindication in plain view—in front of his enemies—but was anointed with oil, a greeting given to an honored guest. David had come to a place of fullness—and it was in the presence of God that the overflow came. It was understood that David could not have received this overflow without our Lord! How utterly amazing—That we can pause and rest amid our battles because God is with us! He is our Shepherd, Who promises sustained, Divine, unwavering protection. Not only are we protected, we are blessed. We are covered! We have more than enough—of everything!
The message of the abundant blessings the psalmist captures is excessive! This demonstrates the Lord’s faithfulness AND His capacity to bless us beyond our greatest thoughts! He exceeds what our finite minds have the capacity to create. He exceeds the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts. He, in effect, says to us, “I excel in blessing you more than you can or will ever comprehend!” How He chooses to bless us, of course, is up to Him! But the beauty of it all is that His plans surpass ours. His thoughts and vision are far beyond our hopes and expectation, and His faithfulness is great!
Don’t we all want to live in more than enough? More than enough love, purpose, peace, grace, protection, and provision! More than enough hope, joy, strength, generosity, and charity! Our overflow will bless the least of these. Our overflow will do remarkable things for the Kingdom of our Lord!
May the God of all overflow, the God of all abundance, fill your life to the brim and then allow you to see the overflow! This is my prayer for you, Beloved of the Lord . . . And may you remember that this world . . . is definitely a much better place . . . place because you are in it!
Until Next Time, My Dear Friends,
Selah