One of the ways that the shepherd would protect the sheep from pests would be to anoint their heads with oil. Let’s look at that phrase a little closer.
Thou hast anointed my head with oil
Herbert Lockyer wrote,
“This simile has been interpreted in may ways—as the Eastern custom of anointing
guests with the precious unguents as they enter a hospitable home, as the
anointing of prophets, priests and kings with the “the oil of holy anointment”
as they were set aside for their respective offices, as the anointing the saints
receive as they function as kings and priests, and as the divine anointing with
the Holy Spirit and with power…….But while all of these applications are
permissible, the direct interpretation of the anointed head is associated with
the shepherd’s acre of his sheep.” (God’s Book of Poetry: Meditations from the
Psalms, pp. 79-80)
He goes on to write,
“David learned by experience that sheep were very susceptible to sickness and
fevers, or liable to be bitten by or serpent or torn by a wild beast. For such
needs, the psalmist had at his belt a horn of healing oil or mollifying
ointment. If the skin was bruised or broken, tenderly the wound would be washed
and then soothed with oil.” (pp. 80)
As summer in the high country moves gradually into autumn, subtle changes occur both in the countryside and in the sheep.
The nights become cooler; there are the first touches of frost; the insects begin to disappear and are less a pest; the foliage on the hills turns crimson gold and bronze; mist and rain begin to fall and the earth prepares for winter.
In the flock this is the season of the rut, of mating, of great battles between the rams for possession of the ewes. The necks of the monarchs swell and grow strong. They strut proudly across the pastures and fight furiously for the favors of the ewes. The clash of heads and the thud of colliding bodies can be heard through the hours of day and night.
Because these encounters can cause the rams to be injured, maimed or even killed the shepherd has a very simple remedy. He catches the rams and smears their heads with grease.
Phillip Keller writes,
“I used to apply generous quantities of axle grease to the head and nose of each
ram. Then when they collided in their great crashing battles the lubricant would
make them glance off each other in such a ludicrous way they stood there feeling
rather stupid and frustrated. In this way much of the heat and tension was
dissipated and little damage done.” (A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, pp. 122)
From time to time God’s people but heads with one another when we don’t see eye to eye. Some like to assert themselves as “top sheep” and leave in their wake injured and maimed sheep.
I myself can think of several people who will not darken the doors of a church today because they were wounded during battles between believers.
“Scores of skeptical souls will never enter a church simply because away back in
their experience someone had battered them badly.” (Keller, pp. 123)
To prevent this sort of thing our Shepherd left us a great example.
John 13:1-7
1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, Jesus knowing that His hour had come that He should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. 2 And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, to betray Him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come forth from God, and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper, and laid aside His garments; and taking a towel, He girded Himself about. 5 Then He poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. 6 And so He came to Simon Peter. He said to Him, "Lord, do You wash my feet?" 7 Jesus answered and said to him, "What I do you do not realize now, but you shall understand hereafter." 8 Peter said to Him, "Never shall You wash my feet!" Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me." 9 Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head." 10 Jesus said to him, "He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you." 11 For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, "Not all of you are clean."
12 And so when He had washed their feet, and taken His garments, and reclined at the table again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13 "You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. 14 "If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. 16 "Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master; neither is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him. 17 "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. NAS
The Apostle Paul elaborated on this attitude in Philippians 2:1-8.
1 If therefore there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. NAS
In addition to His great example Jesus promised that He would send them a comforter – the Holy Spirit who would help them to know His peace.
John 14:25-27
25 "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. 26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. NAS
Bless God there is balm enough in Gilead for all our fevers and wounds! Is a bruised heart yours? Have you been torn by the trials and afflictions of life? Well, the Shepherd-Physician is near to apply the oil of joy for mourning and to adorn you with the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.
My cup overflows
The autumn days can be golden, especially under Indian summer like weather. This is the season when the sheep can sit back and say… ”my cup runneth over.”
But at the same time, unexpected storms or early snows can blow in without much warning. The shepherd must be prepared for this possibility otherwise he and his sheep can experience some appalling suffering.
Keller writes,
“Some of the most vivid memories of my sheep ranching days are wrapped around
the awful storms my flock and I went through together. I can see again the
gray-black banks of storm clouds sweeping in off the sea; I can see the sleet
and hail and snow sweeping across the hills. I can see the sheep racing for
shelter in the tall timber; I can see them standing there soaked, chilled and
dejected. Especially the young lambs went through appalling misery without the
benefit of a full, heavy fleece to protect them. Some would succumb and lie down
in distress only to become more cramped and chilled.” (pp. 126)
One of the things Keller would do for these frozen lambs was give them a mixture of water and brandy to warm them up. Likewise the Palestinian shepherds may have used wine to help their chilled and frozen sheep.
Attached to the shepherds girdle was his cup, fashioned from the horn of an animal. When he came to a quiet flowing stream or pool of fresh water, before his sheep drank he would plunge his cup in the water until it overflowed, and then slake his own thirst.
For David this simple act became alive with spiritual meaning as he realized the abundant goodness of the Lord.
“Can we say that the overflowing cup is ours? Far too many of us are content
with a mere trickle of blessing. We are strangers to the “rivers of living
water” the Good Shepherd provides for the sheep who know His voice (see John
7:38). He does measure out His blessing drop by drop. His is the overflowing
bounty for all who are thirsty enough to appropriate it. Do you have all and
abound? Jesus came that you might have not only life, but life more abundantly
and that you joy might be full (see John 10:10; 15:11).” (Lockyer, pp.
80-81)
Haddon Robinson adds,
“Complaining can develop into a fine art! Some tarnished souls can look at any
situation and tell you what is wrong with it. Unfortunately, a few of these
spirits have joined our churches.
When you meet these people you know they
are poverty stricken. I do not mean that they do not have money. They often do.
But though they may have fat purses, they have lean souls. Christians who sing
the song of heaven in a minor key do not impress others with the richness of
their faith. The people who convince me of the reality of Jesus Christ are those
sturdy saints who sing with psalmist, “My cup runneth over.”” (The Good
Shepherd: Reflections on Psalm 23, pp. 27)
David himself knew hard times:
· Absalom his son, rebelled against him committing treason
· Ahithophel his advisor, betrayed him
· Joab his army chief, deserted him
· His wife scolded him for his humility
· Adonijah a favorite son, tried to steal his throne
· Former King Saul hated him
Yet despite all of that, and more, David knew that God had never failed him, in fact, just the opposite was true. His cup overflowed!
“Sometimes a shepherd found a very deep well from which to draw water for his
flock. Many were a hundred feet down to the water. To draw the water the
shepherd used a long rope with a leather bucket at the end. The bucket held only
three quarts. It had to be let down and drawn up hand over hand and the water
poured into large stone cups beside the well. It was a long, laborious process.
If a shepherd had one hundred sheep, he might have to draw for two hours if he
allowed the sheep to drink all they wished. Sheep do not like to get wet, and it
was mark of special kindness to keep the cups filled to the brim so that they
could drink with ease….the shepherd of the psalmist….drew and drew and filled
the cups to overflowing. He was untiring in his efforts to satisfy the thirsty
sheep. (Robinson, pp. 27)
Our God is a great giver! He is lavish in his bounties to us. He not only gives us what we ask or think; He gives us exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think.
Ephesians 3:20-21
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. NAS
Hymn – Count Your Blessings
Verse 1
When upon life's billows You are tempest tossed, When you are discouraged Thinking all is lost, Count your many blessings Name them one by one, And it will surprise you What the Lord hath done.
Chorus:
Count your blessings Name them one by one. Count your blessings See what God hath done. Count your blessings Name them one by one. Count your many blessings See what God hath done.
Verse 2
Are you ever burdened With a load of care, Does the cross seem heavy You are called to bear. Count your many blessings Every doubt will fly, And you will be singing As the days go by.
Verse 3
When you look at others With their lands and gold, Think that Christ has promised You His wealth untold. Count your many blessings Money cannot buy, Your reward in heaven Nor your home on high.
Verse 4
So amid the conflict Whether great or small, Do not be discouraged God is over all. Count your many blessings Angels will attend, Help and comfort give you To your journey's end.
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