June 29 | Psalm 23:5-6, 2 Samuel 5:1-5

Elaine Pierce
Jun 28, 2025
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Overflowing Love

By Elaine Pierce

When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a compact with them, and they anointed David king over Israel. 2 Samuel 5:3

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:6b

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. Matthew 3:16.

When he was in Bethany...a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume...She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Mark 14:3.

To be 'anointed' means to have your head rubbed with oil or holy water, and it signifies the Lord's favor. In today's passage we read about the elders anointing David as their king. David alludes to his anointing in Psalm 23. David's anointment foreshadows Jesus anointing, as we read in the New Testament. All of scripture points to Jesus, and Psalm 23 is no exception.

David was king of Israel for 40 years, and he served God and God's people humbly and well. However, he was far from perfect. As we say every Sunday in our corporate prayer of confession, "we have sinned against you in thought, word and deed." We don't deserve a 'table in the presence of our enemies.' We don't deserve goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. And yet, that is what God promises to those who love him and call him Lord.

Tim Keller, well-known author, preacher and church planter, described the Christian faith like this: "The gospel says you are simultaneously more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted than you ever dared hope." Take time this week to meditate on this psalm and to once again thank God for the gift of life, of hope, of love, and of mercy. What a mighty God we serve!

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for loving me not because I deserve to be loved. I fall short every day, and yet you are there to pick me up. Thank you for filling my cup to overflowing. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELAINE PIERCE

It is a delight and joy to write Sunday's UALC Blog post. I have been a UALC member for 20+ years and I value our community of believers. I draw strength from God's Word, and it is my hope that you join me in seeking to grow closer to Him as we read, study, and pray together. I've been married to Gene for 47 years, and we have four grown children and nine grandchildren. It is an exciting time to be alive, and I count it all joy to serve him, even in the midst of challenges. To God be the glory, for the great things he is doing!