A Year of Overflow.

Every year my church does a service we call "The Blessing Service". It's always the first or second weekend of the year and has become a favorite of many - including people who don't go to church there or have left the church. Somehow, they always find their way back, which I love.

This year, Pastor Alan brought a word from Psalm 23. When he started, I was a little sad. I've read Psalm 23 before. I was hoping for a word from some obscure story in a corner of the Bible I hadn't read before... but he went to, probably, the most well known chapter in the whole Bible. When he began to talk about Psalm 23, I saw it with new eyes (how cool is that?).

Take a look:

Psalm 23:5-6
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."

Those are the two verses that became 2010's blessing. Here are a few things that struck me:

1. The "You" is referring to God - I do nothing. He does it all.
2. "In the presence of my enemies" - in Bible times, they would conquer and then celebrate, and lots of times it would be in the literal presence of the enemies. It was a way to show you had conquered them. It was a way to show celebration for winning a battle.
3. Table imagery - I like to eat. I like to eat with friends. The enemy cannot steal away the banquet - so celebrate on.
4. "anoint my head with oil" - this was a sign of favor for the guest. Kings were anointed, priests were anointed, and it was used for medicine. Again, He anoints, I do nothing.
5. Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
6. "my cup overflows" - in Bible times, a guest would have his cup filled over the brim, so the liquid was spilling out onto the table. That was a sign that the guest was welcome and was another way of saying "we have more than enough for you to be here." Isn't that what God wants us to hear? He has more than enough for me.
7. "goodness and mercy will follow me" - Will. Not might. Will. Again, I don't have to do anything. Goodness and mercy follow me.
8. "all the days of my life" - that's a long time
9. "I will dwell in the House of the Lord" - I bet it's a big house. And again, will. Not might.
10. "Forever" - That's a really long time to live with anyone. At least it's God :)

We belong in the presence of God. He wants us. He wants us to live in the overflow of life. He wants to bless us. He wants to give us food to eat and a place to live. Blessing chases us down.

He is good.

Be blessed :)