What does this psalm mean?

[Jollygirl455]

(Psalm 23:5) You arrange before me a table in front of those showing hostility to me. With oil you have greased my head; My cup is well filled.

As a very generous host, Jehovah provides an abundance of spiritual food through the anointed “slave” class. (Matthew 24:45) Although we live in a hostile world, we are well fed. The Watchtower is published in over a hundred languages so that people living in such diverse places as South Africa, Greenland, the Solomon Islands, and India can be fed spiritually. Besides, the approximately 55,000 congregations worldwide have well-trained public speakers and teachers and fine meeting places, including hundreds of new Kingdom Halls. Over 3,000,000 home Bible studies are being conducted to help sheeplike ones. In contrast, those in Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, go hungry.—Isaiah 65:13.

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If you would like to know more about this and other themes, next time Jehovah's Witness come to your door, ask them for a free Bible study at your convenience. You will never regret all the knowledge you will acquire and remember that what you do with that knowledge is your choice.

Knowledge + Application = Wisdom

[planner]

this is a quote of the 5th verse of the 23rd psalm, written by king david. it is one of the most famous psalms and is known as "the shepherd's psalm".

to be able to understand what it means, you really need to read the whole psalm.

it starts out with " the Lord is my shepherd, i shall not want" which means that if we are one of his sheep, God is the one who guides and directs our lives and provides for us like a shepherd guides and directs his flock and makes sure they have green grass to eat and water to drink.

"he makes me to lie down in green pastures and lead me beside still waters" is another analogy of how the Great Shepher cares for his flock by giving us rest in places where there is enough to eat and nice deep water to drink from. still water is the part of the river where the water is deep as opposed to the shallow places where the water is rough and turbulent.

'he restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his own name's sake" means that although we go through difficulties and tough times, if we are part of the Lord's flock, he will restore us and show us how to walk uprightly so that we do not embarrass his family name.

"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 comfort me." means that even when things are at there worst in the life of a follower of Jesus, his sheep still trust him and are not afraid because they know that no matter how horrible or bad their trial is, he is still with them to guide them through it and provide for all of their needs in the midst of the trouble. the rod represents his corrective guidance and direction and the staff represents his provision.

"you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil and my cup is running over" means that no matter what is going on in our lives or who is coming against us, if we are part of the flock of God, he takes care of us right in front of our worst enemies and provides for our every need. anointing our heads with oil is an analogy of how God shows our enemies that we are indeed his chosen and anointed children as he provides for us and fills us with his joy even when things are absolutely terrible all around us.

'surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and i will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" means just what it says. if we are the sheep of his pasture and follow him as our shepherd, then we will have his goodness and mercy all over us all the days of our lives and also be allowed to live forever in his kingdom.