EPISODE 270 – YOU ARE VALUED BY THE GOOD SHEPHERD – YOUR GRACIOUS HOST 1

Friday 20th October, 2023

YOU ARE VALUED BY THE GOOD SHEPHERD – YOUR GRACIOUS HOST 1

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”

Psalm 23:5 (NKJV)

We have been drinking from the rich wells of the Psalm of David (Psalm 23), for some days now.

From the first part of the verse 5, we realised the Psalmist focused on the Shepherd as his Host. This establishes the graciousness of our Shepherd.

It is obvious that, most shepherds tend their sheep either for trade or to prepare them for slaughter and feast.
However, it is a different narrative with our Good Shepherd. He sees His sheep as companions. Therefore, instead of preparing His sheep as meal for the table, He prepares a table for the sheep.

He makes the sheep His guest. For you to have the Lord as your Shepherd-Host, is the best thing ever.

As your Shepherd-Host, He will give you the best treat and comfort. Just as we have seen that the Host is responsible for the security of His guest, our the Lord who is the ALMIGHTY, shall protect, preserve and defend you with all of His might and resources.

He is also the GRACIOUS HOST!

This is because, He doesn’t only prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies; He also ANOINTS YOUR HEAD WITH OIL.

This is an ancient practice of Jewish hosts and even among the Oriental nations. They anoint the head or the body (feet) of their special guests with oil as an act of graciousness, respect or honour to them.
It is also reckoned as an act of courtesy towards an important and valuable guest. Mostly, the host uses a special anointing oil to freshen up a guest he highly esteems or loves.

Jesus gives us a vivid example:

“One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to come to his home for lunch and Jesus accepted the invitation. As they sat down to eat, a woman of the streets—a prostitute—heard he was there and brought an exquisite flask filled with expensive perfume. Going in, she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping, with her tears falling down upon his feet; and she wiped them off with her hair and kissed them and poured the perfume on them. When Jesus’ host, a Pharisee, saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, “This proves that Jesus is no prophet, for if God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman this one is!” Luke 7:36-39 (TLB).

Jesus replied his host by turning to the lady:

“Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look! See this woman kneeling here! When I entered your home, you didn’t bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You refused me the customary kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has covered my feet with rare perfume. Therefore her sins—and they are many—are forgiven, for she loved me much; but one who is forgiven little, shows little love.” Luke 9:44-46 (TLB)

This is parallel to Psalm 23:5.

First, Jesus sat at the table set by his host (read Luke 9:46 in TPT). Just as the Good Shepherd prepares a table before His guest (Psalm 23:5).

The pharisees opposed Jesus. Yet, He ate before them, just as you feast at the Lord’s table in the presence of your enemies.

Jesus goes on to outline how a host must treat a valuable guest..

1. “You didn’t bother to offer me water to wash the dust from my feet,” Which means, the Host washes the feet of His guest.

2. “You refused me the customary kiss of greeting.” Your Host greets you with a kiss.

3. “You neglected the usual courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head.” The Host has to anoint the head of the guest with an expensive oil.

When these things are done, they depict the graciousness of the Host.

Your Shepherd-Host, provided you with all that you need at His love banquet table and graciously anointed you with the most precious oil. This reveals how valuable you are to Him.

Oh hallelujah.