Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Ver. 5. Thou preparest a table before] Here he makes use of another metaphor from a liberal feast maker, or (as some will have it) from a most kind father, making provision for his dearly beloved child: so did God for David, both in regard to temporals and spirituals. God had given him (as he doth all his people) all things richly to enjoy, all things needful for life and godliness, the upper and nether springs, the blessings of the right hand and of the left, bona throni, et bona scabelli, as Austin phraseth it. Now, outward prosperity, when it followeth close walking with God, is very sweet; as the cipher when it followeth the figure addeth to the number, though it be nothing in itself. David's table was laden with God's creatures, and did even sweat with variety of them. God had let down to him, as afterwards he did to Peter, a vessel with all manner of beasts of the earth and fowls of the air in it, Acts 10:12. This he is very sensible of and thankful for, as a singular favour.
In the presence of mine enemies] i.e. In sight and spite of them, hostibus videntibus et ringentibus. God doth good to his people, maugre the malice of earth and of hell.
Thou anointest my head with oil] A piece of entertainment common in those times and among that people, Luke 7:36,38, to show the greater respect to their guests. And although this is not every good man's case in temporal respects, yet at the word and sacraments God anointeth his guests with the oil of gladness.
My cup runneth over] He had not only a fulness of abundance, but of redundancy. Those that have this happiness must carry their cup upright, and see that it overflow into their poor brethren's emptier vessels.