Overflowing

“…you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5b ESV).

The first Bible I remember receiving is tucked away somewhere in a box in the back storage closet in my home. If I remember correctly it had a picture of Jesus welcoming children to him on the cover. Inside the front cover was printed the 23rd Psalm. Of course, it was in the King’s English.

It was one of the first Psalms I memorized and it is always a joy to come back to—even in the ESV. The 23rd Psalm was part of today’s Bible reading plan that our church promotes.

What struck me today was the portion quoted above. “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” I didn’t know as a child that anointing was something that a host did when he had someone over for dinner. I just knew it was a good thing since it happened at the table prepared for me. I did understand what it meant that my cup overflowed. For me it meant that my cup was filled to the brim with the best lime sherbet-laden-punch I’ve ever had and that if I wanted all of it I had to be careful not to spill it.

I can truly testify that God has filled my cup to overflowing. He is the giver of the good gifts I know in my life: my wife, my children, my Savior, my friends, my fellow elders, and many more. He also allows those things in my life that are bad and brings good from them. I am a very blessed man and it is all God’s doing.