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Psalms 23:5b (ANIV)
5 [You prepare a table
before me in the presence of my enemies.]
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

DRAWING NOTES:

TIME OF DAY:
Daytime.

LIGHTING NOTES:
Sunlight coming from above & to the left illuminates this scene, casting vague shadows to the right & below the figure & objects.

CHARACTERS PRESENT:
David (son of Jesse).

RESEARCH/ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Psalm 23 is an example of a Psalm of Confidence, which expresses trust in God’s care for & leadership of his people.

This is my literal version of verse 5b, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” King David is standing outside, with his eyes closed, holding a cup/glass, which has heavenly red wine flowing down into it. There is also heavenly olive oil pouring down onto his head. David is smiling, enjoying the blessings bestowed upon him.

Notice the difference in the wine (which is a thinner liquid) & the olive oil (thicker viscosity). I have drawn the olive oil pouring down in a stream of fairly constant width, due to it’s thicker consistency, whereas wine tends to flow in “glugs”, that create variable thickness passages, as it pours downwards.

Here’s the scene without the figure in the foreground.

Background of Psalm 23 – Scene 04 – My cup overflows

Click on the colour bar below to view/buy this Background:
Background of Psalm 23 – Scene 04 – My cup overflows

The significance of olive oil.
Olive oil is quite significant in the Bible. It is mentioned in several Old & New Testament books. There was the more earthly, obvious uses for olive oil, but also some important/symbolic uses as well. Among the more mundane uses were its inclusion in cooking & eating, & it was used for lighting lamps (see Leviticus 24:2; Exodus 27:20). It’s more significant, & symbolic uses included being used for anointing oil (Exodus 30:23–25) and as part of the grain offerings (see Leviticus 2:1–10). Olive oil was used to anoint a kings head, as a sign that he had been chosen by God to rule (see 1 Samuel 16:1). It was also used to sanctify priests (see Exodus 29:7), the tabernacle, and all its furnishings (see Exodus 40:9).

In the New Testament olive oil can also be identified as a symbol of faith, &/or the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins (see Matthew 25:1–13) the five foolish virgins did not think ahead and had brought no additional oil. When the bridegroom was delayed, their lamps began to go out. They had to go & buy more olive oils for their lamps, thus missing out on the chance to join the wedding celebration forever. Jesus gave the point of the parable in his warning: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (see Matthew 25:13). When Jesus returns to the earth, some will be ready for His arrival (illustrated by the wise virgins who had olive oil); others will not be ready (symbolized by the foolish virgins who had none).