God Comforts us During and After
Key Verse to Read and Treasure
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows—Psalm 23:5
For Insight
An attentive host will make accommodations for his guests, especially those who have traveled a great distance or come through grueling terrain to attend the event. When the people of God read David’s words in Psalm 23, they could identify with what it meant to have oil poured over their head after being in the hot sun or heat while traveling. That oil would soothe their scalp, refresh their dry skin. Make them feel whole and nourished. Just the thought of it might make them breathe a sigh of relief.
When our children your younger I can remember rubbing their little bodies down with soothing oil or lotions after a nice refreshing bath. Their body would relax, all tension would disappear, and their faces brighten as I massaged the oil into their skin.
God is going to do that for us. After we have suffered, experienced trials, gone through dark valleys in this life, the cup of oil will be ready for us. A table filled with everything we need to refresh and restore will be spread out for us. We can all look forward to that day when we will receive these precious heavenly gifts and new condition.
But the ministry of heaven is ours now, also. We do not have to wait until heaven to experience the soothing oil or be refreshed by the blessings of heaven’s banquet table. Because we belong to the Lord today, he ministers to us now while we are going through all kinds of suffering, trials, deserts, and valleys.
The prophet Zephaniah wrote that the LORD rejoices over us. Just like the soothing oil poured over us, the pleasure God takes in us refreshes and restores us in every season and time both now and eternally.
Life Lesson
At the conclusion of suffering or trials God has wonderful refreshing in store. Not only in heaven but on earth also. God refreshes us so we can continue our journey. Keep pressing and regaining our love for life until the time he chooses to call us home to be with him for all eternity.
Prayer
Lord, being refreshed sounds good; something to look forward to as we experience valleys and trials. Thank you for being a beautiful, thoughtful, wonderful LORD and Host! Amen
Digging Deeper
devotionallyyours.org 