A conquering army will often display its supremacy by taking some public action which the vanquished ones are powerless to prevent, dearly though they would love to. They will destroy a home, perhaps, while distraught owners look on.
God displays His supremacy over the powers of Satan to His loved ones by supplying their needs while His enemies, and the haters of the church, look on defeated. They cannot prevent us receiving spiritual blessing in Satan's territory, as when the inhabitants of a city flaunt their secret supply of food while the enemy besieges them.
It is a picture of the power of God to keep us in the midst of troubles. So often we think we must be utterly delivered from them in order to taste joy or peace or rest. The sight of them puts us off even the best provision. But has it not been the lesson of our Christian experience that our deliverance has not been out of the world but in the midst of it? And should we not boast of it?
Of His deliverance I will boast
Till all who are distressed
From my example comfort take
And charm their griefs to rest.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death. Here, more than anywhere, He protects His loved ones. However Satan may chafe, he cannot prevent the believer feeding on the Scriptures and enjoying fellowship with the living God meanwhile paying scant heed to bodily sickness and the passing of this world's enticing allurements.
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over (Psalm 23:5).
H ere are two pictures of abundance and generosity. When Aaron was anointed the ointment ran down to his feet.
'Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard; that went down to the skirts of his garments.' In Psalm 133 unity is likened to anointing with oil. God has appointed it to be pleasant and abundant.
In Psalm 23 it is our very beings which are so dear to God as to be the object of His choice gifts and of such spiritual provision as makes us attractive to God and others.
Some old-fashioned grocers used to weigh out supplies to their customers by filling the packet, shaking it down to make room for more, and then so filling it to the brim that it ran over the top. It was a generous supply; more than was paid for; a token of goodwill and kindness.
God does not skimp His supplies. The Spirit bestows in abundance the fruit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering. gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and self- control. They are a pleasure to ourselves and to all who surround us. May we experience such things in these days! Such goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives and, though confined to bed perhaps, we shall gain abundant entrance thus arrayed into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.