By Rev. Daniel Yaw 

Introduction
We often hear this phrase when we are suddenly struck with riches or have some amazing surprise.  Is it true that it is purely luck?

I now continue my meditation on Psalm 23:5b.  Last month, I wrote about the security of God’s provision that this great shepherd would set a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  The next phrase pushed it further, speaking of the abundance we receive from our Lord.

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

The Anointing of God
If you notice in the psalm, the writer brings us from outdoors to indoors.  From the pasture, we have the shepherd leading the flock indoors – from pasture to pen.  I remember a verse in the Old Testament in Psalm 121:8, “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” 

It has the message that wherever we are – in the open field, in the dark valley, or the confines of our home, God is still with us.

And as the Lord leads us into this inner space, His protection, and His favor remain with us.

The picture of being anointed with oil has a few meanings.

• For the sheep, oil is anointed on the sheep as protection from deadly fleas or any injury they may have encountered.
• Oil anointing was also an ancient custom of hospitality and respect shown to esteemed dinner guests for the host to anoint his invitee’s head with oil. The oil was mixed with fragrant perfumes to refresh and soothe weary travelers.
• To anoint someone was to set them apart to be gifted by God for their calling. The oil was the outward sign of the inward transforming and empowering work of the Holy Spirit.  That was the case of David being anointed and the power of the Holy Spirit came upon Him.
• Anointing is usually done on priests and kings as a way of consecration for the Lord.

Let us come back to our meditation on this phrase.  So what does this mean for us? How are we anointed?

I believe it is as written above – all of it.  Yes, God will protect, heal, soothe, and bring gladness to our hearts.  Even amid tribulation, Jesus told his disciples and encouraged them to have “cheer”.  It is gladness in troubles.  Paul, the apostle understood this so well that he said that the present sufferings are but light affliction compared to the glory that is yet to come.  That is why the apostle constantly exhorts us to “rejoice in the Lord always!”  Nehemiah  said that the “joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Neh 8:10)

And above all these is the favor of God upon us and indeed we are priests and sons of the King of kings.  What an honor we have in Christ.

The Abundance of God
The next phrase is just an overflow of the previous line – “my cup overflows”.  The joy, the healing, the favor, and the blessings simply overflow.  That is the cup that the psalmist is talking about.

God does not give us “stingily”, He gives generously. 

Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now to him who can do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,”  It is far more abundantly than all that we ASK or THINK!

“Boy am I lucky!” – it has nothing to do with luck but the sheer favor and blessings of God.  When we come to know this God and our Shepherd, He constantly watches over us and blesses us.

The abundance of God’s anointing is so sure till it overflows.  We have all we need to take this journey of life.  Someone said, “The greater the problem, the greater the God we will experience”. 

Conclusion
May this psalm constantly comfort and sustain us.  As we journey together as God’s sheep, let us remember constantly – it is never sheer luck, it is God’s eyes upon me.