How’s your cup?

If someone knows this photo is subject to copyright, please let me know.  I think it came in with other shots of natural beauty, but I do not know its source.  It may be from our canyon lands, but could be from elsewhere in the world.  What caught my eye was that the cup, though overflowing, continued to be filled.

What better example for:

… my cup runneth over. (Psalms 23:5b KJV)

Six verses in this one Psalm of David’s, and almost everyone is familiar with it.  David speaks of God’s provision in every part of his life – eating, drinking, walking, sleeping.  All of our daily activities are watched over by the Good Shepherd.

… thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (Psalms 23:4b KJV)

The tools of the shepherd. Other psalmists recognized this parable, too:

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. (Psalms 80:1 KJV)

Earthy shepherds provide protection and guidance to their flock, even when they are disgruntled or discontent.  The Good Shepherd sees each of each flock as individuals, knowing them before they were born, continuing to prove guidance throughout their lives.

The difference is that, unlike the shepherd’s flock, The Good Shepherd’s flock has reasoning, the ability to think about whether they want that guidance or not.  Some choose not.  The Good Shepherd seeks them:

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10 KJV)

It is up to each individual to determine their response to Him, and by doing so, how fully their cup runs over.  You see, we are promised blessings:

He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (Psalms 24:5 KJV)

And who shall receive God’s blessing?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. (Psalms 24:4 KJV)

How do we get cleansed?

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. (Psalms 51:10 KJV)

All for the greatest blessing, life for ever more:

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psalms 133:3 KJV)