Provision in the past and provision now.
When David begins speaking about what it like to be a guest at the Lord’s table in verse 5, how God prepares a table for him and anoints his head with oil, and gives him an overflowing cup—these are pictures of God’s provision for him. Here’s a statement of David’s assessment or summation after reflecting on what God has done for him. God has provided us everything that we need.
Hospitality
For a traveler, access to water and food was a matter of life and death. Providing for travelers who had stopped at their tents was an obligation. This is exactly what we find Abraham doing in Genesis 18, in verses 1-8.
As New Testament believers are urged to hospitality to this type of guest in Hebrews 13:2: 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. (Heb. 13:2). In Romans 12:13, he doesn’t forget to exhort us to be “given to hospitality”.
A cup of welcome
One of the first things done for a guest who has been received, is to offer him a drink of water. To give a drink of water is the simplest way to pledge friendship with a person. When Eliezer, Abraham’s servant, sought a welcome, he did so by requesting of the maiden who came to the well to draw water (Gen. 24:17, 18)
Filled to overflowing
One of these customs in parts of the Middle East had to do with filling the cup. If you came to somebody’s house, even if you were a total stranger, the first thing the host would do is to offer you a cup of water. When we are welcomed to God’s table of provision and His Presence, made possible by trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, He does not leave our cup empty. And the first and most important thing that this cup is overflowing with is the presence of God Himself.
A cup of provision
With Love
God is the one who makes our love for him and for one another grow. God is able to love us so much, that this love pours out of us and overflows toward those all around us. (1 Thess 3:12).
With Joy
When we ask of the Lord in Jesus’ name, and we receive it fills us to overflowing with Joy (John 16:24)
With Hope
The demonstrated power of the Holy Spirit, working within us and through us, is what witnesses to us that we are saved. And with the help of God as we allow Him to work through us, it fills us with hope, as we see the evidence of the Holy Spirit working through us, because we know that we are His. (Romans 15:13)
Welcomed throughout our life
The filling and filling of our cup continues throughout our life. God’s Holy Spirit and provision for us never runs dry. It is we ourselves who limit what God wants to do for us and through us. (2nd Kings 4:1-6).
If we are willing to let God use whatever we have in the house; if we give to God ourselves, even such as we are, He will use us.
The amount of trusting the Lord that we have walked in, up to the point of the trial determines the amount of faith that we have available to bring to the trial in the moment that it is most needed.
Forever welcome
This welcome we have from God, based on the relationship that we have with His Son is one that continues not only throughout our life, but is the relationship that continues forever. This is clear, even in the life of David. The relationship between David and God still exists. The relationship that David is talking about here between himself, of him sitting at God’s table in peace and relationship with Him, is a forever relationship.