Show In this next to last lesson from our sheep, we’re looking at Psalm 23:5—Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Theologians often use this verse when they speak of the Lord as the host of a great banquet. And while the idea of the Lord presiding over a banquet table is biblically valid, we miss a lot of the deeper meaning of verse 5 unless we continue interpreting Psalm 23 from the perspective of the poem’s speaker, a sheep. For example, from the sheep’s perspective the “table” is tableland suitable for grazing. Sometimes the shepherd has to prepare the land by clearing out rocks and poisonous plants before bringing his sheep to graze. My favorite part of this verse, however, is the second part: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Author and shepherd, Phillip Keller, explains that anointing the head of sheep brings healing and relief from pests that can drive sheep crazy. Whenever gnats, mosquitoes and flies attack a flock, the sheep respond by trying to get away from the pests. Some stamp their feet erratically while others race around the pasture in an effort to outrun their tormentors. Some even beat their heads against rocks or trees, desperate for relief. Does this scene describe your life sometimes? It does mine! The stresses of life make me run around, trying to keep up/avoid/juggle/survive. And simply glancing at the day’s headlines makes me want to bash my head against the nearest wall. There is only one remedy for the sheep’s pathetic condition: oil. When the shepherd applies oil to the sheep’s head, the result is immediate relief. The sheep become calm and content. This is not a one-time application, though. It’s a process that continues as long as the pests are present. The key to the process of anointing lies in two words of verse 5: thou anointest. The shepherd does the anointing, not the sheep. At the risk of pointing out the obvious, let me just say that it is impossible for the sheep to anoint themselves with oil. Even if they knew which oil to use, which they don’t, they do not have the skill or physical dexterity to apply the oil where it’s needed. They just aren’t very bright. And neither am I. For the past week I’ve been trying to deal with countless pests and I’ve failed miserably. Just as sheep are completely incapable of dealing with the pests that annoy them, I am incapable of creating the peace and calm that I so desperately need and want. Only Jesus my Shepherd can do that. Only He knows what I need (even though I often think I know). Only He knows what will bring relief from the pests of life. And just as a shepherd’s anointing of his flock is a process that continues as long as the pests are present, so our Shepherd’s anointing is an ongoing process. Let’s face it. Our lives will never be free of pests this side of heaven. One final thing to note about verse 5. The sheep says that the shepherd anoints him with oil to the point that my cup runneth over. The image is one of abundant, lavish care by his shepherd who has an endless supply of soothing oil. What a beautiful picture of our Shepherd. He doesn’t care for us half-heartedly. He lavishes us with everything we need.
Clearly, when the Shepherd anoints His sheep, He does so lavishly. What about you? Do you need relief from the pests of life? Take a cue from the sheep and sit in the presence of the Shepherd. Allow Him to care for you and soon you’ll be declaring with the sheep, my cup runneth over.  August 2018 August 2018 You have {{ remainingArticles }} free {{ counterWords }} remaining.You've accessed all your free articles. Unlock the Archives for Free Request your free, three-month trial to Tabletalk magazine. You’ll receive the print issue monthly and gain immediate digital access to decades of archives. This trial is risk-free. No credit card required. Try Tabletalk Now Already receive Tabletalk magazine every month? Verify your email address to gain unlimited access. {{ error }}Need help? Attack by the blow fly is a real concern to a shepherd. It is a cause of weakness and death in affected animals. The fly lays its eggs on the sheep, and within twenty-four hours, the larvae penetrate the skin and multiply, and soon the sheep is poisoned. Working with our own flock, I would see a sheep distressed by this affliction, but, thankfully, there is a treatment: backlining. An appropriate ointment is poured on the animal’s head and along its back. We often think of David the shepherd in relation to Psalm 23’s green pastures. However, David needed to treat disease in his flock. He would also have seen how larvae or maggots were like his own sin—leading to death. David needed the divine remedy; so do we. How wonderful that Jesus tells us in John 10 that the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. He has provided the remedy at an incalculable cost. Acts 20:28 tells us that the church is “purchased with his own blood.” How wonderful that Jesus tells us in John 10 that the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. It is not just disease that a shepherd struggles with—there are also the sheep themselves. In Psalm 51, David pleads with the Lord, “Let the bones that you have broken rejoice.” As a Jewish shepherd walking ahead of his flock, David would have noticed when a lamb strayed. At first, he would have thrown a little stick to bring it back, but if the lamb wandered away again, David would have broken its leg. He would then bind up the leg and carry the lamb in his arms, eventually placing the lamb at his feet, where it would stay close to its shepherd. This hard experience was done for the good of the lamb. What a beautiful picture of chastisement. When God admonishes us, His children, we must recognize that He is good in all that He does. Anointing oil also signifies gladness. We are reminded of this in Isaiah 61:1–3. Who brings good news to the poor? Who binds up the brokenhearted, proclaims liberty to the captives, giving “the oil of gladness instead of mourning”? Surely this is the Anointed One, the Lord Jesus. It is as we consider Him that we have joy and gladness. If not, we are weary and faint in our minds. Psalm 133 likens unity to a precious oil that is poured over the head of Aaron the priest. Unity is precious. We need to love and wish well for “all those in every place who call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:2). How can we exclude from our love and prayers anyone whom Christ includes in His? Oil can smooth troubled water. Oil nourishes. I remember an African pastor presenting the picture of God holding a cup of cursing and a cup of blessing. Surely the blessing would be for the Son for whom He had eternal affection and the cup of cursing would be for His creatures who had sinned against Him. But no, the Son took the curse so that sinners would have the blessing. We need to drink from that cup over and over again, and as our Lord delights in mercy, we love to meet Him there. The psalmist asks an important question in Psalm 116:12: “What shall I render to the Lord for all his gifts to me?” The implied answer is sweet: “I will have more of the same.” Our need for satisfaction will never be met by this world’s goods or recognition. Stephen Charnock, the Puritan, expressed it well when he said, “Nothing less than Christ can satisfy and when you find him nothing more could be desired.” My wife and I met with a recently retired pastor who spoke of his frailty and inability to travel on holiday or to church events, but he repeated to us, with joy in his heart, the verse from John Newton:
Margaret was the quietest member of Alec Motyer’s Bible study. When asked, “How can we make an impact on the world around us?” Margaret simply said, “Peace.” Someone responded, “Tell us more.” She replied: “There are eleven flats in this block. They are all facing the difficulties, challenges, and trials of life. What my neighbors need to see is that we are facing the same issues but enjoying an unshaken peace.” Margaret’s cup was overflowing. This distinctiveness would make our testimony magnetic to a troubled society. On the cross, Jesus Christ suffered untold agony and rejection. This was not because of anything wrong that He had done but rather out of love for His Father and for those whose sin He was bearing. Yet His cup was overflowing; He had unshaken peace. The centurion saw this and exclaimed, “Truly this was the son of God” (Matt. 27:54). May that be our profession today as we recognize the anointing of our head with oil and the overflowing of our cup. William MacKenzie is cofounder and managing director of Christian Focus Publications in Fearn, Scotland. Why are sheep's heads anointed with oil?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.
What does anointing the head with oil mean?To anoint means to apply oil or ointment to a person's head or body. In ancient times this was done for various reasons. Sometimes it was a sign of hospitality or of routine grooming. Those who were sick or injured were anointed with oil or ointment as medicine. But anointing was also done for sacred reasons.
Do shepherds put oil on sheep's head?He feeds, trims their hooves, and cares for the sheep even when life threatening conditions such as freezing cold and drought (enemies) are present. He anoints the sheeps' heads with oil.
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Psalm 23 anoint my head with oil meaning sheep
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