Psalm 23:5 and The Eucharist - An Insight.

Psalm 23:5 and The Eucharist - An Insight. 

The Book of Psalms 23:5 reads, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows".

My cup over flows -

What is the significance of over flowing someone's cup? Why should someone do that? Is there any message in doing so? Let us unlock the understanding by looking into few historical cultural contexts.

In Persian royal culture, as the dinner drew to a close, a few special guests were summoned by a eunuch to approach the king and to drink in his company. This was a mark of exceptional distinction because it was during these drinking bouts that important matters of state were discussed - and personal ambitions might be realised. The courtier honoured with a regular place at the king's table was known as a "homotrapezus" (‘messmate’) a very rare and enviable title held by trusted nobles of the highest rank. The word "homotrapezus" is a Latin transliteration of a Greek word, likely combining the Greek prefix homo (meaning "same" or "equal") with a form of the Greek word trapeza (meaning "table" or "bank").

My comments on "Overflowing the Cup" - Dining with the King has a purpose and only a very few courtiers or delegates will attend and share the table with the King.

If the King says to the Wine dispenser to stop pouring wine into a person's cup, it means that the King has nothing to discuss with him apart from this and he may leave the table; if someone's cup is filled to the brim, this means that there is something more to discuss with him; and if someone's cup is overflowed, this means that the King likes your association and wants you to share his table till the end.

This is the significance of sharing the table with the King.

What has this to do with Psalms 23:5? The answer lies in the Eucharist, which we take part in the remembrance of the Wounded Body and the Sacrificial Blood of Jesus on the Cross of Calvary for our sins (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).

When we part take in the Eucharist, it is like God our Eternal King, sharing His Cup filled to the brim or overflowing our cup has a significance. Every time we receive the Eucharist, it is our Lord saying to us or wanting from us to have a continuous relationship with Him. He is more interested and wants us to be in fellowship with Him, and never want us to leave the table. He wants us to enjoy the association with Him. The Lord wants us to understand one more important thing - sharing the table with us has an important indication, you are sanctified and consecrated to part take in the Lord's Table, or in other words you are too important to be ignored by the Lord Himself. See what a beautiful thing this is.

Now the question is, whom do you want to associate with - in a God who left you to your fate, or in a God who wants to save you and always keeps you by His side? The choice is up to you. 

God bless.