DRINK UP!
An Overflowing Cup
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5
Many of David’s Psalms speak of anguish and heartache. He seems a bit whiney to me at times. Have you ever felt this way? I certainly have—and so did Guy Mitchell. His most famous song was “Singin’ the Blues,” the song of a really sad man. The blues left him with nothing to do but cry y y y y y. Throughout the Psalms we can see David singin’ the blues. He expresses sadness and anguish. At times he sounds like a man who feels all alone; he is filled with hopelessness and despair. David is a man who is all dried up, and at times feels he will be alone the rest of his days. It is against this backdrop of the blues that Psalm 23 seeps from his soul.
CUP FILLED WITH LIVING WATER
A Spring From Within Jesus said, “If any man is thirsty, let Him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scriptures said, ‘from his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38). This water is not supplied by the world. These are rivers from the inside depths of our being. Jesus did not speak of just a “trickle” now and then, but of rivers gushing forth from within you. Jesus said, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water’” (John 4:10).
Jesus tells the woman at the well that an hour is coming, and now is, when true worshippers will be consumed in Spirit and truth. David avowed, “Thou has anointed my head with oil.” This is the work of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
PURPOSE OF THE CUP: SERVICE
Serving God in the presence of one’s enemies The grace of God not only saves the sinner (all we like sheep have gone astray; scattered), it also shepherds the believer. The goodness and mercy of God will follow them all the days of their lives. It is the outcome for those who seek their happiness in the service of God – – – here and now. The kingdom of grace and mercy is a heavenly hope, but not just limited to the ever after. Rejoicing comes to those who are satisfied with the blessings of the eternal/internal springs of living water. These are Kingdom blessings rather than materialistic, earthly indulgences. When we serve the cause of grace we dispense love and mercy to “the least of these.” Jesus does say that it is more blessed to give.
WHAT GOD DOES
The Overflow of Grace To feast at His “table” to be at God’s banquet—that’s good food! His overflowing grace is something we experience as Christians in this life. When David refers to the grace of God, He confesses that God provides liberally. We are all in need of His grace—and that’s exactly what He has in plenty!
Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” Jesus tells His followers that He brings life to the full! (John 10:10b), which is a cup running over with God’s grace. He does not just give us the gift of eternal life when we first believed, but He keeps on giving eternal life. The life He gives is a complete life (overflowing).
Drink up!
Drinking from the overflowing cup is the privilege of the children of God. There we find grace upon grace. We realize that we are rich as Christ is rich; we are whole as Christ is whole; we are satisfied as Christ is satisfied.
Do you thirst for righteousness? Do you hunger for God’s loving kindness? That’s a good thing. When we find our satisfaction in the cup, we will find it to be overflowing. Lift your cup!