By: Robert Serreyn
Question? In the book of Psalms in Chp 23, Verse 5, what did King David mean by “you anoint my head with oil”?
Psalms 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.”
Answer:
To start with… The word ANOINT could be best understood in this case to mean as PROTECTION.
To make things a little easier to understand back in biblical times shepherds would ANOINT the heads of their sheep with oil in order TO PROTECT their flocks from insects and worms that would try to evade the eyes and nostrils of their sheep WHICH could mean death for the animal if no precautions were taken.
In scripture the Holy Spirit is referred to as Oil (read the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13), Therefore the Oil mentioned in Psalms 23:5 represents the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit PROTECTS The Lost person from “going to hell” IF, they will “Trust Christ” and his payment alone for their sins.
John 5:24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment); but is passed from death (hell) to life.”
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death (hell); but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
On the flipside of that coin…
The Holy Spirit also PROTECTS The Believer from what I will term as “Spiritual Decay”, IF, they will only “Yeild” themselves to his leading.
John 16:13. “However, when he, the Spirit of truth (Holy Spirit), is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”
In Conclusion:
The 23rd Psalm is a beautiful picture of “The Rest” or spiritual peace/salvation that a person has in Christ as their saviour.
Verse 2: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters.”
Romans 5:1. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace (spiritual rest/salvation) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
The 23rd Psalm represents “The Peace” or spiritual rest that the christian can enjoy IF they yield their will into doing the Lord’s Will.
Verse 3: “He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Matthew 26:39. “And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as you will.”
Last, but surely, not the least…
The 23rd Psalm ALSO speaks of the ETERNAL SECURITY that a believer has in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Verse 4, & 6: “Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me.” (6) “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Ephesians 1:13, & 14 “In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (14) “Which is the earnest of our inheritance the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of his glory.”
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH