Lingering over Psalm 23 this morning. Though it’s so about Him . . . it so about “me” too. If the first five words are true, that the Lord is indeed MY Shepherd, then you just can’t help but settle down and re-take inventory . . . you can’t help but re-count all His benefits toward those who are His own . . . you can’t help but get a bit overwhelmed at the Shepherd’s love and care for His sheep . . .

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake . . . You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; . . .   
(Psalm 23:1-3, 5 ESV)

The first thing that grabs me is what He does. He makes to lie down . . . He leads . . . He restores . . . He prepares a table . . . He anoints. He is the Good Shepherd. To think that the King of kings and the Lord of lords . . . that He who is worthy to be served . . . has determined to serve. The King’s love for His people is so great that He takes the towel, gets on His knees, and washes their feet. The Maker knows the frailty of the creation and so, undertakes the meeting of their greatest needs . . . pastures to feed in . . . waters to drink of and rest beside . . . paths to follow which are safe from sin’s destruction . . . a table to come to which is safe and secure . . . oil to minister to the wounds of the day . . . oil to remind of the high priestly calling. He does it all. It’s all about Him. He is the Great Shepherd.

And then I notice the liberal sprinkling of “me”, “my”, and “I” throughout this song. He makes me lie down in all sufficient pastures . . . He leads me by still waters and in paths of righteousness . . . my thirst is satisfied as I drink . . . my footing is on solid ground as I seek, by His grace, to follow where He leads.

Though in the battle, though surrounded by enemies, there is a table prepared for me. A table of remembrance that looks back to an empty cross, an empty grave, and reminds of victory to come. A table with bread from heaven to meet the day’s needs . . . set with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies . . . mercies new every morning . . . grace sufficient for the day. And, it’s a a table for the future . . . being set, even now, in a place that is being prepared for me . . . a banqueting table . . . prepared for the Bride of Christ . . . a place of celebration and rejoicing.

And then, there is the anointing as the Shepherd attends my wounds . . . as the Great High Priest reminds me of my high and heavenly calling. I have been anointed with the Holy Spirit since re-birth. The blessed Spirit ministering to my spirit as healing is required. God’s Spirit reminding me that I have been consecrated to the work of a priest for the kingdom. Enveloped and indwelt . . . that’s me.

Now add in the promises . . .

For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me . . . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.    (Psalm 23:4b, 6 ESV)

Hover over this song, for but a few minutes, and You know it’s all about Him . . . He gets all the praise and glory. But mediate, even just briefly, on the implications for “me” . . . and how can the riches of my relationship with the risen Christ not cause me to be overwhelmed . . . to be filled with awe . . . to be beyond words . . . to exclaim with the psalmist . . .

My cup overflows!