【双语灵修】抹了油的羊WELL-OILED SHEEP

诗篇 23:5

在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席，你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。

7月14日

抹了油的羊

“你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。” -诗 23:5

《诗篇》第二十三篇中这句话，指出牧羊人照顾他的羊时的一个有趣细节。牧羊人会用油抹羊的头，来赶走讨厌的昆虫和保护羊的皮肤免受太阳晒伤。

诗人大卫运用象征性的措词，以抹油来表征从神而来的呼召或差遣。在古以色列国，用油膏抹一个人的头，是一件重大的事件。当被神拣选作为以色列王时，大卫自己也被膏抹（撒母耳记上16:1-13）。先知和祭司也是用油膏立的（参看出埃及记29:9；列王纪上19:15-16）。这些用油膏抹并不只是把数滴油抹在被膏者的头上而已，《诗篇》第一百三十三篇形容膏油”流到胡须”，又流到受膏者的袍之领口。这幅图画描绘了神赐予祂忠心的仆人的福份和装备，是何等丰富。

当大卫说他的福杯满溢时，他所指的是牧羊人周全的看顾和保护。纵然神所爱的羊是愚昧，又好游荡的，但诗人却因祂的慈爱深感震撼。

你如何经历到神周全的看顾呢？

祷告

宽宏大量的牧人啊，求祢叫我们的心思意念，充满了一切回忆，想起祢在各方面的看顾和供应，并时常保护我们。我们为祢丰足的看顾感谢祢。阿们。

Psalm 23:5

MONDAY, JULY 14

WELL-OILED SHEEP

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. —Psalm 23:5

This line in Psalm 23 picks up on an interesting tidbit about the shepherd’s care for his sheep. Shepherds will use oil on a sheep’s head to keep pesky bugs away and to help protect the animal’s skin from the sun.

The psalmist David’s phrasing here also points symbolically to anointing as a calling or commissioning that comes from God. Anointing a person’s head with oil was very significant in ancient Israel. David himself was anointed with oil when God chose him to be the king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Prophets and priests were also anointed with oil (see Exodus 29:9; 1 Kings 19:15-16). And these anointings included more than just a few drops on the recipient’s head. Psalm 133 describes the anointing oil as “running down on the beard” and dripping onto the collar of a person’s robe. This picture describes something of the lavish blessing and equipping that God bestows on his dedicated servants.

When David says his cup overflows, he is referring to the lavishness of the shepherd’s care and protection. The psalmist is overwhelmed by the goodness of God, despite the foolishness and wandering of his beloved sheep.

In what ways are you experiencing God’s lavish care?

Generous Shepherd, fill our minds and hearts with memories of the many ways you care for and provide for us, watching over us always. We are grateful for the lavish abundance of your care. Amen.