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Psalm 23 - The Shepherd’s Psalm (Part VII)
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (v. 5)

David the psalmist continues to delight in God’s loving-kindness and watchful care. In this verse, the sheep finds comfort when the shepherd administers soothing oil upon his head.

It was a customary practice in ancient times to honour a guest by anointing his head with oil (Lk. 7: 4). From early Egyptian literature down to late Arabic medical works, oil is mentioned as a valuable remedy. Oil was commonly used as medication for the sick and liniment for bodily pain. The good Samaritan used oil mingled with wine to dress the wounds of the man who fell among robbers (Lk. 10: 34). The early tent dwellers found oil useful; their thin clothing, the heat and the sand produced weariness and irritation which the oil relieved.

“Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over” (v. 5)

To the shepherd, summertime is literally “fly time.” Hordes of insects that emerge with the advent of warm weather launch their attack on animals, tormenting them and driving them almost to distraction. Sheep, in particular, are troubled by nose or nasal flies. These buzz about the flock attempting to deposit their eggs on the damp, mucous membranes of the sheep’s nose. Many of the animals would try to avoid these hovering flies by stamping their feet, frequently running helter-skelter in their vain attempts to escape their tormentors. Once the insects find their targets, the rapidly emerging larvae soon burrow through the nasal passage causing untold agony to the infected animal. In a painful frenzy, the poor sheep would often bash its heads against tree trunks, rocks or scrub bushes. In their panic, sheep often become injured; others may be blinded and some even killed outright.

What if the shepherd is unprepared for such eventualities? In a short while, a whole herd can be wiped out! “Only the strictest attention to the behaviour of the sheep by the shepherd can forestall the difficulties of ‘fly time.’ At the very first sign of flies among the flock he will apply an antidote to their heads – oil. Once the oil had been applied to the sheep’s head, there was an immediate change in behaviour. Gone was the aggravation; the sheep would start to feed quietly again, then soon lie down in peaceful contentment” – Phillip Keller. Drawing a parallel, he goes on to say, “This, to me is the exact picture of irritations in my own life. How easy it is for there to be a fly in the ointment of even my most lofty spiritual experience! So often it is the small, petty annoyances that ruin my repose. It is the niggling distractions that become burning issues that can well nigh drive me round the bend of up the wall. … And so my behaviour as a child of God degenerates to a most disgraceful sort of frustrated tirade.”

The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; when applied to things it gave them a ceremonial sacredness, fitting them for holy service. As applied to prophets, kings, (I Chron. 16: 22; I Ki. 19: 16) and priests (Lev. 4: 3), it marked their consecration to the office, and was a symbol of the spiritual qualification divinely imparted for its due discharge (Ex. 30: 29-30) – Fausset’s Bible Dictionary.

Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is all dark without! How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the pillars of the earth are removed! – Spurgeon. It is this daily anointing of God’s gracious Spirit upon our minds which produces in our lives, Christlike qualities of love, joy, gentleness, compassion, patience and peace. May we learn to walk daily in the Spirit and put away from us all ill temper, frustration, irritableness which mars the daily conduct of so many of God’s children.

Summer is also the time when scab is prevalent amongst the flock. Scab is caused by a minute parasite that multiplies very quickly in the heat of summer. Highly contagious, the disease attacks the sheep and very swiftly spreads through contact to the whole flock. The only effective antidote is that used to treat the nasal fly threat - a solution made up of linseed oil, sulphur and other chemicals. Each animal is completely submerged in the solution paying particular attention to wash its head carefully. Keller relates this to the corruption of the minds through the ungodly influences of the world. “In our modern era of mass communication, the danger of the ‘mass mind’ grows increasingly grave. Often the mass media which are largely responsible for shaping our minds are in the control of men whose characters are not Christlike: who in some cases are actually anti-Christian.”

As believers, we are to mind “spiritual things” because “we have the mind of Christ” (I Cor. 2: 16) to understand the things of God. We are also to “gird up the loins of your mind, be sober” i.e. to be consistently aware of the things around us, of the changing scenes of life (I Pet. 1: 13). “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Philp. 4: 8).

Thank God for the Spirit and His graces, the anointing which fills us with spiritual joy and comfort. We are indeed privileged to be in the care of the Good Shepherd. Like contented sheep, we can testify of God’s abundant blessings: yea “my cup runneth over.”

Brethren, let us check our lives. Have we been keeping a close walk with the Lord? Have we allowed little things, people or circumstances to trouble us, to take away our peace? What fills our minds daily – cares of life, the things of this world? God has given us the Holy Spirit to shield our minds from the corrupting influences of the world, to grant us peace in the midst of trouble.