It Starts Small

Psalm 23:5 in the New Living Translation more clearly shows the focus of the abundant blessings David received from God, by stating “My cup overflows with blessings.”

Through the imagery of a host-guest relationship at a banquet setting, David poetically describes the truth of the wonderful, overflowing blessing He has received from God. Hospitality was highly valued in biblical times with hosts giving generously from their own food and water supply.

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. ² He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground, ³ and said, “My lord, if I have found favor with you, please do not go on past your servant. ⁴ Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ I will bring a bit of bread so that you may strengthen yourselves. This is why you have passed your servant’s way. Later, you can continue on.”

“Yes,” they replied, “do as you have said.”

⁶ So Abraham hurried into the tent and said to Sarah, “Quick! Knead three measures of fine flour and make bread.” ⁷ Abraham ran to the herd and got a tender, choice calf. He gave it to a young man, who hurried to prepare it. ⁸ Then Abraham took curds and milk, as well as the calf that he had prepared, and set them before the men. He served them as they ate under the tree.

Genesis 18:1-8

Not only is David’s “cup” described as full to the brim, but it is also running over. Based on the host-guest relationship, this imagery clearly teaches that God provides much more than expected. Some people may read this part of the verse and think material blessings of food, shelter, and money are intended.

While the psalm does use the image of an overflowing cup of wine, this does not necessarily mean that David is talking about material goods. In context, David is describing his blessed state while his enemies were surrounding him.

Being no stranger to harsh conditions by hiding in caves and living in fear of enemies overtaking him, David’s blessed state was because God was present and providing for him, both physically and spiritually, amid hardship. Although enemies surrounded him and the future seemed uncertain, David knew he could trust his life to the Lord.

God is trustworthy to provide for the needs of His people in both good and hard times. He supplies His people not just “to the brim,” but rather abundantly and generously.

Psalm 23:5, with its picture of abundant blessings and provision, carries over into the New Testament as well. In Jesus’ earthly ministry, He displayed an overwhelming generosity in His miracles.

When feeding the five thousand, Jesus provided for the crowd beyond their needs using only five loaves of bread and two fish.

¹⁶ “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to him.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ Then he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰ Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.

Matthew 14:16-20

Once everyone had received enough, the disciples picked up an abundance of leftovers, which filled 12 baskets!

Jesus gave in abundance that enabled Peter, James, and John to catch a multitude of fish.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

⁵ “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.”

⁶ When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. ⁷ So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

⁸ When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” ⁹ For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, ¹⁰ and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners.

“Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.”

Luke 5:4-10

There were so many fish that the nets were full to bursting and the boats began to sink due to the abundant catch! Later, after His resurrection, Jesus performed a similar miracle.

⁵ “Friends,” Jesus called to them, “you don’t have any fish, do you?”

“No,” they answered.

⁶ “Cast the net on the right side of the boat,” he told them, “and you’ll find some.” So they did, and they were unable to haul it in because of the large number of fish.

John 21:5-6

For those who are believers in the church age, an even greater blessing has been given, where one’s cup can excitedly be said to “runneth over.” This gift or blessing is salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), and the presence of the Holy Spirit given to every believer (John 14:17).

Jesus promised:

The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.”

John 7:38

With the imagery of overflowing water, Jesus spoke of the future giving of the Spirit, which had not yet taken place.

He said this about the Spirit. Those who believed in Jesus were going to receive the Spirit, for the Spirit^[a] had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

John 7:39

The Holy Spirit was given and is still graciously given today to all who place faith in Jesus.

2 When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like that of a violent rushing wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were staying. ³ They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and rested on each one of them. ⁴ Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues,^[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:1-4

Psalm 23:5 should not be taken to mean that material goods will be poured out in one’s life or that nothing bad will ever happen. Rather, Christians can live a joyful life through the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ and the overwhelming blessing of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the Bible, God has been shown to generously provide for His followers. You can truly experience a life where your cup overflows.