By Rev. Daniel Yaw

Psalm 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." 

Introduction
Chinese New Year is just round the corner.  Looks like in Malaysia, it is indeed a great blessing to have so many “newness”.  We have had our New Year 2024 and now we celebrate another new year in FCC – the Chinese New Year.

With this celebration, there are two things that would be a common thing during this season.  Firstly, it is the greetings of blessings being exchanged.  Everyone wants to be prosperous and thus we wish each other, “Gong Xi Fa Cai”.  Then with this celebration, there will be guests after guests visiting with us, be they family members, or good friends.

Reading this portion of Psalm 23:5 – “You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows”, is something so appropriate during this season.

A Guest so welcome
As we see the last time, the psalmist moved from the picture of a Shepherd in the fields to a Host in the home.   A table was set before us – even in the midst of the enemies.  We will always feel secured.  There is no need for shame, no worries that God will be absent in face of adversity.

Then from the table, he spoke of the guests at the table.  He anoints our heads with oil. 

This is a practice by the Jews when a guest comes into a house.  He is anointed with oil.  We see that glimpse in the New Testament where Jesus was not anointed with oil by the host until Mary came with her alabaster jar.

What significance is that?  It is a note of great welcome.  To anoint with oil shows a few things.  Firstly, the anointing of oil signifies joy.  That God shows his pleasure upon his children and his flock.  The guests are so welcome into the presence of God.  It is an honour to have a guest.  That is what the Lord is saying that He honours us with such welcome and receives us to himself.  There is no more any shadow of doubt that God will leave us.

Paul wrote in Romans saying that “if God is with us, then none shall be against us.”  That is the favour of God upon our lives.

Then, the anointing of oil is also the oil of joy that God showered upon us (Isaiah 61:3; Hebrews 1:9).  Another psalmist expressed similar satisfaction in the Lord’s Favor: “God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy” (Psalm 45:7).  We are blessed with God’s countenance of joy upon us.

Finally, the anointing oil is also for healing and protection.  Back to the picture of the sheep, shepherds often “anoint” their sheep with oil for injuries as well as protection from harmful bugs.  David imagines himself sitting at the Lord’s banquet table while his adversaries gather all around. Being in God’s presence rejuvenated David, giving him the strength to face all the challenges and pressures of life. His enemies could snarl and roar all they wanted, but in the shelter of God’s presence, David would feast and be refreshed.

A Blessing so overflowing
The next phrase is “my cup overflows”.  That is how our Lord, the great shepherd does for his flock.  When God provides, it always overflows.  It is not just sufficient, nor is it just full – it overflows.  It is the abundance of life’s blessing.  This is what we all want, and we need - the blessings of God upon our lives.  As we wish each other blessings, may it be the overflowing cup that God fills.  He is also often described of the God of “how much more”.  Jesus spoke of a parable about asking God for the Holy Spirit in which he concluded saying, “If you (fathers) who are evil knows how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”  Paul the apostle in his letter to the Romans prayed a prayer of blessing, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And then in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” This is the God of the how much more.

Conclusion
I wish all of you FCCians, a very God-blessed Chinese New Year with his oil of joy and a cup that overflows with love, peace, and hope.  May we all cling to God and his promises to us.