God’s Word for You
Psalm 23:5-6 stop running away
by Pastor Timothy Smith on Sunday, June 14, 2026
5 You set a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You perfume my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
Table, oil and cup—all these point to the ceremonial meals eaten by the Jews when they were at worship in the temple, at the tabernacle, and even at home. “Prepare a table” recalls a phrase (shulchan orech) in the Passover meal, in which the guests are given the meal to eat—the meal in which every bite recalls the greatness of God as he rescued his people from their bondage in Egypt. Is that what David is thinking of as he confesses that God “prepares a table” not only in front of David, but in front of David’s enemies, too?
Whether or not this is the thought in David’s mind, his words tell us that God is providing for him everything that he needs, and that God is doing it out in the open. And in the same way, Jesus’ victory over the devil is not something hidden. It’s the victory Jesus announced to the entire spiritual world when he descended into hell before his resurrection (Colossians 2:15), and which he announced to the entire physical world in his word (Luke 24:45-48). God’s blessings are lavished on us, and they will be even greater in heaven.
In the meantime, the devil also knows he lost the great battle. That means he’s going to try to win as many little battles as he can before his time is up. Knowing that God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies should make us want to invite as many people as we can to the banquet of God’s word; to sit on our side of the table and not the other side.
The word I’ve translated “perfume” is not the usual word in Hebrew for anointing someone into an office, as in Exodus 28:41. That word, massiah, is the root of our word Messiah, “Christ.” Here, David is just talking about a good host who puts a little scent on his guests to welcome them into his home and give a pleasant odor to travelers. It’s one of many blessings David thinks of when he realizes that God is our true host. There are enough blessings to go around—more than enough. Our cup overflows.
But the time is short. Invite a friend to the banquet of our forgiveness in Jesus.
6 Surely goodness and mercy
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
I worked at a McDonald’s restaurant in my hometown for more than eight years. For part of that time, I didn’t have a car, and I had to ride a bicycle the three miles out to the store from my home. It’s a beautiful country ride—except at a long (¾ mile) straightaway where the road passes a house that was patrolled by large guard dogs—Dobermans. Two of those dogs used to chase me, twice a day, every day, for more than a year.
David takes that picture of being chased and he lets us know that we really are being chased, pursued, all the days of our lives. But not by an enemy! We are being pursued by God’s goodness and his love.
A few years after the dog-chasing time (that is, the time when I was chased), I was working in the family business as a housepainter. I was painting by day and managing that McDonald’s restaurant by night. Guess what house we pulled up to one day. As we unloaded ladders and drop cloths, I met one of those same dogs (the other was gone)—and although she didn’t exactly roll over so I could rub her belly, I did scratch her behind the ears and made a friend.
There are times when we need to stop running away from God’s goodness and love and let them catch us (does anybody remember Mayday baskets?).
The blessings God has for us are with us all the time. Sometimes they need to bark at us to get our attention. But they’re nothing to fear. The cross of Jesus Christ itself can be a scary thing to someone who’s never heard the story behind it. But once we’ve heard the message, it’s the finest companion we could hope ever to have.
The price Jesus paid on the cross assures us of the truth David ends his Psalm with:
I will live in the house of the Lord—forever.
In Christ,
Pastor Timothy Smith
Pastor Smith serves St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, Minnesota. To receive God’s Word for You via e-mail, please visit the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church website.