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 shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:5-6 ESV).
Most of us wouldn’t ask to have oil poured over our heads. Oil is greasy, slippery, and hard to wash off. But people who knew about raising sheep in ancient Israel—and still in some places today—would understand the blessing of anointing.
David, the writer of this psalm, knew a lot about herding sheep. As a caring shepherd, he would have applied olive or grain oil to a sheep’s nose and ears. Sheep were often troubled by insects that buzzed about their heads and tried to lay eggs on the moist membranes of the animal’s nose and ears. The sheep became distracted and obsessed with keeping those bugs away. So, shepherds applied oil as a soothing remedy that kept the pests away. It was part of the shepherd protecting his flock. Relief was immediate. Gone were the aggravation, the frenzy, the irritability, and the restlessness. It was an incredible transformation.
This is a beautiful picture of anointing. Describing himself as a sheep, the psalmist says that the Lord, his shepherd, anoints his head with oil. The calming influence of oil on a sheep’s head is meant for us as well. The irritants and annoyances of life disappear.
Jesus is often described in the New Testament as the “Good Shepherd.” His “oil” is the blood He shed on the cross. Of course, it is not seen as a literal anointing. Spiritually, however, every believer is anointed with this covering of blood that comes through the Holy Spirit and brings spiritual health and eternal life. It is an incredible picture of how far God is willing to go to protect and empower us through life.
I hope you are able to picture yourself receiving an anointing like this from God. We all need his healing balm to cope with the problems of each day. Allow the good shepherd to anoint you with his grace, mercy, and love.