“My Cup Runneth Over”

“My Cup Runneth Over”

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” – Psalm 23:5

This Psalm has been considered one of the most beloved and least believed Psalm. The Psalm is the Psalm of the Great Shepherd living, sustaining, and providing for His sheep. A mention here is made of an overflowing cup. The cup is not simply full but overflowing! Those who have drank from the cup of salvation, are able to drink from an overflowing cup of supply. “I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.” – Ps.116:13
The Lord’ blessings are abundant and always above and beyond what we can even imagine. His doings are beyond our imagination. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” – Ephesians 3:20 I heard the story of a lady who came to church and the Lord really blessed her by the sermon preached. She was rejoicing over the service and someone told her that the preacher read his sermon. She said she wouldn’t care if he whistled it! Her cup was overflowing!
God’s people are saved, seated with Christ, sustained by His grace, and satisfied with an overflowing cup. The overflowing cup follows the “though” of a valley yet the “through” of His guidance because of the “thou” of His presence. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” – Psalm 23:4
Though enemies are around us, we still are blessed with an overflowing cup! Usually, a soldier in enemy territory would be forced to gulp down a hasty meal as best he could while he cowered in fear of being discovered, captured or killed. However, the Lord spreads the table for His children right in the middle of the enemy’s territory and all the enemy can do is watch us as we feast on the blessings of the Lord.
It is interesting to note that in those days, when a guest was sitting with his host in the evening drinking, the host would often rise and refill the glasses. If the host came and only filled the glass half full, it was the host’s way of saying, “The evening is over, it is time for you to leave.” If, however, the host came by and filled your cup full, he was saying, “I am enjoying your company and I would like for you to stay with me for a while longer.” When the Lord filled David’s cup, He caused it to overflow. The Lord was saying, “David, I sure do enjoy your company and I hope you will continue to abide with Me!”
Too many of us live as though our cup was empty! We, as Spurgeon said, “write our sorrows in marble but God’s mercies in sand” The stresses of the time are not meant to strip us of the blessings of our “overflowing cup”! We still are to bask in the sunshine of God’s blessings though living in the presence of enemies. The foes, fears, and frustrations of life will never stop the flow of God’s overflowing cup of blessings for the Great Shepherd loves and cares for His sheep.

“My Overflowing Cup”
Psalm 23

My cup overflows for I have been blessed
Beside the still waters my soul does find rest.
My Shepherd is loving and knows where to lead.
The path that He chooses is the one that I need.

A table is spread with enemies around.
My cup still runs over, His blessings abound.
His goodness and mercy to me will not sever.
At last, I will dwell in His house forever.

Chuck Peters 8/2/21