Drinking From My Saucer

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. -Psalm 23:5

LENT DEVOTIONS

Mrs. Hillary Krahn

3/23/2025

Several years ago, one of Zion’s members who now rests with the Lord, sang a song at his friend's funeral called “Drinking from My Saucer” by Bill Anderson. It was a song I hadn’t heard as a young-ish member, but it was memorable. The refrain said that he’s reaping better than he sowed, he’s drinking from his saucer because his cup overflowed. He talks about having a friend in Jesus which makes him rich enough even though he doesn’t have a lot. He thanks God for blessings and mercy, and again emphasizes that he’s drinking from his saucer. David, in Psalm 23 speaks very similarly of his cup overflowing because of God anointing him and blessing him.

The name Christ in Greek is “chiros” with “chrio” meaning to anoint. An AI overview on Google (yes, AI, eek!) says, “In the Bible, "Christ" is a title that refers to Jesus. It's a translation of the Hebrew word meshiah, which also means "anointed one". The title "Christ" indicates that Jesus' followers believed he was the anointed son of King David.” Jesus was from the line of David, the same anointed David of the Psalm, however, he is THE anointed one. Because we bear his name as Christians, we too are anointed. We too are from a line of the king, King Jesus.

Sometimes in life it’s difficult to look at life as having so many blessings that our cup overflows into our saucer. Personally, I don’t even use cups with saucers except at special occasions, so it’s hard to think about my cup overflowing onto my desk. What a mess that would be! However, when we look at who prepares our table, who anoints our head with oil, who we are as anointed Christians, we are blessed more than a cup full. We can look at that line that says, “in the presence of my enemies” and say, yes, there are trials, there are hardships. That’s undeniable in this world full of sin. But even Bill Anderson in his song continues by saying, “So Lord don't let me gripe too much about the rough row I've hoed.” It’s a struggle to overlook the bad and see the abundance of good. We are the anointed, however, and those enemies have nothing on the one who we hold faith in, we can drink from our saucers.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Christ Jesus, the anointed one, that we too may be anointed as sons and daughters of the king. Let us not forget though enemies and trials may assail us, that our cups are overflowing with blessings from you. We pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen.