If The Lord is My Shepherd - Position

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

https://bible.com/bible/113/psa.23.1-6.NIVUK I was never a very athletic person. I was always among the last pick for any sports team because I was never any good. I remember once when I was playing football in the school playground and actually scored two goals (one an accident, the other a penalty), I thought I'd just about won an Olympic gold medal. I tried out for the school football team and got picked... to report on the matches. At least I got some attention. The bullies read every word and were quick to tell me if they disagreed. Being chosen is a special thing. It gives you a feeling that you are someone important. These two sentences speak of different aspects that David experienced when he was chosen by God to be king. The first of these is favour. Following David's departure under a huge cloud from Saul's service, there were those who still favoured him. Those who could often secretly sent him and his men food. We see this in David receiving consecrated bread for him and his men in 1 Samuel 21 and the story of David, Nabal and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. Supplies were even provided in the uncertain days between Saul's death and David's coronation (1 Chronicles 12:38‭-‬40). I believe David sees this as a practical expression of God's favour towards him. A table is spread when threats against him still exist. This shows whose side the people, and God, are on. Secondly we see anointing. This refers to David's selection as king (1 Samuel 16:6‭-‬13). The Lord could have chosen a bigger, stronger man as king, the way He had with Saul. But He saw what was inside David's heart and chose him instead. This has an equivalent in the New Testament: Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no-one may boast before him. 1 Corinthians 1:26‭-‬29 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/1co.1.26-29.NIVUK We also see David talk about fullness - the fullness of God's blessing for him: my cup overflows Again, this has an equivalent in the New Testament: I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:16‭-‬21 NIVUK https://bible.com/bible/113/eph.3.16-21.NIVUK We also see blessing: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. These are aspects of God's character. David is saying that God will be with him forever. Jesus promised us this too in Matthew 28:20:

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Matthew 28:20

https://www.bible.com/bible/113/mat.28.20.NIVUK Lastly, we see dwelling: I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Not only will God be with David, but David will also be with God forever. The House of the Lord at that time was a temporary structure - a tent. He would never get to see, let alone dwell in, the Temple he designed. What's more, as a descendent of Judah and not a Levite he would have no right to reside there, even if he was the king. I believe that David is talking about the eternal house of the Lord (Hebrews 9:19‭-‬24). David himself was only mortal and the house of the Lord in his day was only temporary. For him to reside in the house of the Lord forever, both would have to become eternal, and the only way for this to happen would be in heaven.

So David's position is one of favour, anointing, blessing and dwelling. When we believe in his ancestor Jesus Christ and put out trust in Him, all four of these become ours too.