This summer our church has been going through a sermon series on Psalm 23. Around this time last year, I created a set of verse-art graphics for Psalm 23.
Here you can see the verse-art I made for Psalm 23:5
I chose, as the background, this delightful mountain stream … singing as it tumbled over the rocks … the sunlight gently filtering through the trees, dancing and making sparkles on the water.
This is what it looks like for God to make “my cup overflow.” A delightful cool refreshing mountain stream. The water singing as it tumbles on its way. Sunlight filtering through the trees. Sparkles dancing on the water.
Re-visiting this Psalm again this summer … I would have to say that it feels like my “stream” is all but dried up.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” – Psalm 23:5
Something I did not notice last summer … this Psalm is clearly speaking of hospitality! “You prepare a table before me.” That is clearly speaking of hospitality!
“… in the presence of my enemies.” Well, I would have to say … when it comes to total strangers vacationing in my home … I wouldn’t go so far as to call them my “enemies.” But I don’t even know them – at all. So I can’t really call them my “friends” either. I can’t even call them “acquaintances.”
How about: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of vacationing strangers in my home.”
“You anoint my head with oil.” In the context of hospitality, I think this speaks to having your act together when houseguests show up to your home. This speaks to having your mind on straight so that you can be sociable, and friendly, and carry on delightful conversation with your visiting houseguests.
“… my cup overflows.” Uhhhhh … right now my generosity is all used up. My patience is worn thin. My energy is depleted.
I think this year, I would like to replace the image of the gentle mountain stream … and I would instead like to use this image …
“My cup overflows!”
I can’t help but think of the widow, in 1 Kings 17:7-16.
The brook which had been sustaining the prophet Elijah dried up. Likewise, for the poor widow in Zarephath, everything had “dried up” as well. All that she had was used up … depleted … spent.
And then a total and complete stranger showed up … and asked her for hospitality. (hmmmm … that seems awfully familiar!)
She didn’t have anything left to give. She was all used up. Everything was spent.
But she gave what she had. She didn’t have much, but she shared it.
I love these sermon notes from Pastor Steven:
“All the widow had was nothing much.
That’s good because God likes ‘nothing much.’
God doesn’t see a little bit where you see a little bit.
God sees the beginning of a lot.”
“God is never limited by His capability … He’s only limited by your capacity to receive what He wants to pour out in your life.”
“The widow gave what little she could … and God supplied what she couldn’t.”
The little bit of oil and the little bit of flour kept coming and kept coming. It never ran out.
Also from Pastor Steven:
“It’s in giving the ‘not much’ that you discover God’s supply!
It’s in giving the ‘not much’ that you discover God’s strength!
It’s in giving the ‘not much’ that you discover the supernatural!”
And so … as I prepare for yet another round of vacationing houseguests in my home this coming weekend, I’m claiming Psalm 23:5:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of vacationing strangers in my home. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows!”
