You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head
with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the
days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:5-6 ESV).
David, the writer of
this psalm, knew a lot about herding sheep. As a caring shepherd, he would have
applied olive or grain oil to a sheep’s nose and ears. Sheep were often
troubled by insects that buzzed about their heads and tried to lay eggs on the
moist membranes of the animal’s nose and ears. The sheep became distracted and
obsessed with keeping those bugs away. So, shepherds applied oil as a soothing
remedy that kept the pests away. It was part of the shepherd protecting his
flock. Relief was immediate. Gone were the aggravation, the frenzy, the irritability,
and the restlessness. It was an incredible transformation.
This is a beautiful
picture of anointing. Describing himself as a sheep, the psalmist says that the
Lord, his shepherd, anoints his head with oil. The calming influence of oil on
a sheep’s head is meant for us as well. The irritants and annoyances of life
disappear.
Jesus is often
described in the New Testament as the “Good Shepherd.” His “oil” is the blood
He shed on the cross. Of course, it is not seen as a literal anointing.
Spiritually, however, every believer is anointed with this covering of blood
that comes through the Holy Spirit and brings spiritual health and eternal
life. It is an incredible picture of how far God is willing to go to protect
and empower us through life.
I hope you are able to picture
yourself receiving an anointing like this from God. We all need his healing
balm to cope with the problems of each day. Allow the good shepherd to anoint
you with his grace, mercy, and love.
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