The psalmist is actually recounting the salient events of the full year in the sheep’s life. According to Phillip Keller (A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23),
“He takes us with him from the home ranch where every need is so carefully supplied by the owner, out into the green pastures, along the still waters, up through the mountain valleys to the high tablelands of summer.” (pp. 114)
We can see this as we seek to answer two questions: What is the table and who are the enemies?
What is the table?
Most who hold to the view that David is changing metaphors here have a problem with the use of the word or idea of table.
The word “table” means something spread out – and does not necessarily refer to a piece of furniture for humans. Flat places in the hill country were called “tables” and sometimes the shepherd would stop at these “tables” so that the flocks could feed. The Spanish word “mesa” means “table.” The high mountain country is often referred to as “tablelands.” A few high flat mountains are even called “Table Mountain.” In fact the word table is used in a similar way in other passages of scripture: cf. Psalms 78:19; Exodus 16:1-19
Who are the enemies?
According to Mark Tabb the word for enemies literally means “one who harasses.” It focuses upon the threats and abuse heaped upon us by those who oppose us.
These enemies or harassments came in three forms (Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23)
Poisonous Plants; Predators and Pests
Enemy #1 – Poisonous Plants
There were “enemies” in the presence of poisonous herbs and weeds growing in the pasture which, if eaten, would prove to be fatal to the sheep. Only the trained eye of the shepherd could spot such dangers to the sheep so that they could be removed. This is in addition to the beasts and robbers always lurking in the shadows.
Enemy #2 – Predators
The shepherd often finds himself tending his flocks on the tableland in full view of his enemies. Only his awareness and preparation can prevent one of his sheep from being attacked.
Enemy #3 – Pests
During the summer months in the tableland the greatest annoyance to the sheep may be that of flies. Flies caused the sheep much aggravation, irritability and restlessness.
The answer to the problem, an anointing!
Thou anointest my head with oil
Keller says that at the very first sign of flies he would apply a special homemade anointment concocted by adding together linseed oil, sulphur and tar. This mixture was poured over the sheep’s head and nose as a protection against the pests. (pp. 116)
As with the sheep there is for us times in our lives when there are flies in the ointment. Often we encounter irritations and annoyances that can ruin our life on the higher ground. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. When we find ourselves aggravated by the pesky little things that can distract us, the daily anointing of the Spirit is there to soothe and calm us.
Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:18-6:9
The summertime for sheep is more than fly-time it is also scab-time.
Scab is an irritating and highly contagious disease common among sheep the world over. Caused by a minute, microscopic parasite that proliferates in warm weather, “scab” spreads throughout a flock by direct contact between infected and non-infected animal.
Sheep love to rub heads in an affectionate and friendly manner. This means that the “scab” is most often found around the head.
As a side note: this is one of the reasons that the Lord wanted his sacrificial lambs to be without blemish (free from the “scab”). In a real sense the “scab” is representative of contamination and metaphorically it is represented by sin.
As with flies the only effective antidote is the anointing of the sheep with the special mixture of oils and chemicals. (Today most of the sheep are actually dipped).
For us as Christians our contamination comes by the world and is spread mind to mind, through the transmission of ideas and thoughts and concepts and attitudes.
This is especially true in our modern day mass communication or Main Stream Media. Who controls the MSM? For the most part people who are ungodly and or hostile toward God / evangelical Christian religion. This is why we need the mind of God.
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.
The mind of God involves those things that are true
True is not to be taken in the narrow sense i.e. that which is truthful (in the sense of veracity), but to that which is true in the wider sense i.e. that which is genuine, real, sincere.
John Henry Jowett described the nature of this truth when he wrote,
“Truth in a police court is correspondence with fact – Truth in the New
Testament is correspondence with God.”
All that is true – all that is real and genuine – has been revealed to us by God in His word and through THE WORD – Jesus Christ.
John 1:1-3; 14-18; 14:6
Jesus in His High Priestly prayer (John 17) said that God’s word is truth.
Jesus said to the Pharisees in John 8 that Satan is the “father of lies” and it has been his desire since the fall to counterfeit that which is of God, real and genuine.
To grasp the truth is not something that happens over night. It takes a lifetime of careful, disciplined meditation and contemplation to grasp the immensity of God’s truth.
Someone has said, “A thoughtless Christian, devoid of meditation and contemplation of true things is a strange contradiction. He or she believes that they are heirs of eternal truth which paradoxically they don’t consider worth thinking too seriously about.”
Bank Tellers are trained to detect counterfeit money, not by dealing with that which is counterfeit but with familiarizing themselves with the real thing. How can we detect that which is false if we do not know the truth?
Psalms 1:1-3
1
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
NAS
Psalms 119:11
11 Thy word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against Thee.
NAS
Psalms 119:105
105 Thy word is a lamp to my feet,
And a light to my path.
NAS
The mind of God involves those things that are honorable
The word honorable refers to something that is worthy of respect or reverence. The word exhorts us to appreciate things that produce a noble seriousness.
“A person has no problem thinking seriously once he gets around to seriously thinking.”
Once we begin to think about things that are true, it ought to lead us to noble, serious thoughts.
The mind of God involves those things that are right
The idea here is of righteousness in a comprehensive sense. It speaks of things that are righteous by both divine and human standards.
William Hendriksen writes,
“Having received from God righteousness both of imputation and impartation,
believers should think righteous thoughts. They should, in their mind,
gratefully meditate on God’s righteous acts (Rev. 15:3), appreciate
righteousness on others, and should plan righteous words and deeds. Masters, for
example, should take account of what is fair and square in dealing with their
servants. They should realize that they, too, have an employer in heaven (Col.
4:1). In all his planning, let the Christian ask himself, ‘Is this in harmony
with God’s will and law?’” (New Testament Commentary: Philippians, Colossians
and Philemon, pp. 198)
If we think righteous thoughts we will make righteous choices. Too often today, decisions are made, not on the basis of what is admirable and noble, but on the basis of what is most expedient and profitable. It takes exercise of mind and devotion of life to get into the habit of wanting what is right.
We live in a world of comfort and convenience and too often our thoughts are on convenience and comfort to the detriment of what’s right. We need to think on those things that are just or righteous!
The mind of God involves those things that are pure
The idea here is purity in all things. Living in the impure environment of Philippi, the Philippians were to fill their minds with pure thoughts in order to combat the unclean influences of their culture.
1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." NAS
§ The Apostle John wrote, “And everyone who has this hope in Him, purifies himself, even as He is pure.” 1 John 3:3
§ The Apostle Paul wrote, “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other peoples sins, keep yourself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22
How do we share in other peoples sins? Through our thought life (sexually, jealously, deceptions, anger etc.)
The mind of God involves those things that are lovely
This is the only place where this particular Greek word is used in the New Testament. It was used in the first century in epitaphs – It spoke of that which was pleasing, orderly, beautiful and attractive.
It was a term that could be used to describe fine art or music. Reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 might give one insight into the meaning of the word. It is the opposite of the confusion and disorder that so often rules our day. We are to think about those things that promote order and beauty.
The mind of God involves those things that are of good repute
Literally, the phrase means fair speaking. It describes that which is appealing – listening to such reports builds one up spiritually. Even upon non-Christians – they make good impressions.
The opposite of this would be a critical, chronically negative attitude.
Some Christians have the gift of negativism – they get special joy out of being critical.
We are to think about things of a good report, things that are admirable and helpful.
The mind of God involves those things that promote moral excellence
Sometimes this word is translated as virtue which speaks of moral and spiritual excellence.
The Greek word is arête which has the idea of fulfilling the purpose of something. When tools work properly, when land produces crops, when Christians glorify God, they are arête, fulfilling their purpose.
Someone has said that if some Christians ran their business the way they run their Christianity, they would be broke in six months. Many have the idea that, nothing but the best will do for home and business – but anything will do when it comes to service and worship. Everything we do and think ought to lead us to fulfill our purpose for God.
We need to consider, think about, dwell on those things that promote moral excellence.
The mind of God involves those things that are praiseworthy
The idea here is to think about the positives instead of the negatives. We need careful introspective in our lives – we need to periodically examine ourselves. This of course means focusing on negative things – BUT we also need time to remember the positives!
Not everything is always wrong with our Church! There are some things that we do right….we need to remember them (Individually and corporately).
Speaking of these last two qualities Warren Wiersbe says,
“If it has virtue, it will motivate us to do better; and if it has praise, it is
worth commending to others. No Christian can afford to waste ‘mind power’ on
thoughts that tear him down or that would tear others down if these thoughts
were shared.” (Be Joyful, pp. 130)
Kent Hughes, in his book Disciplines of a Godly Man, reminds us that this kind of thinking is a matter of choice:
“Each of Paul’s ingredients is explicitly positive. The true, the noble, the
right, the pure, the lovely, the admirable all defy negative exposition. Each
ingredient was, and is, a matter of personal choice—and our choices make all the
difference in the world. We all can choose a thought program which will produce
a Christian mind. I have great sympathy for those whose past has been a series
of bad choices. I understand that if over the years one has chosen the impure
and the illusory and the negative, it is very difficult to change. But as a
biblical thinker, I give no quarter to myself or anyone else who rationalizes
his present choices by the past. Brothers, we are free to have a Christian mind.
It is within our reach, and it is our duty.” (pp. 72-73)
When we compare Psalm 19:7-9 to this passage we can see a parallel. The Christian who fills his mind with God’s Word will have a “built in radar system” for detecting bad and unwanted thoughts. Right thinking is the result of daily meditation on God’s Word.
Psalms 1:1-3
1
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season,
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.
NAS
As our Shepherd, the Lord wants to impart to us His mind, through His Spirit and His Word in order to protect us from the satanic pests that would seek to drive us mad.
1 Corinthians 2:9-16
9 but just as it is written,
"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15 But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. 16 For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
NAS
Thou hast anointed my head with [the] oil [of the Holy Spirit].
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