(Psa. 23:5)
There is a process needed in all our souls, that we should be able to say: "My cup runneth over." This is not the experience of the first part of the Psalm. There, in being able to say: "The Lord is my Shepherd," it is easy to add: "I shall not want." Accordingly, we find the Shepherd's care expressed in the green pastures and still waters of His providing, that the soul thus invigorated (for this is the meaning of "restore," as food or rest restores) may walk "in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." But in the latter part of the Psalm there is a marked change. The green pastures and waters of rest are no longer present to the soul, but the valley of the shadow of death. This is commonly taken to mean a death-bed. Practically the experience of this Psalm is often only reached on a death-bed. But it ought not to be so; and that this is not the thought of the passage may be clear from the words: " Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life."
There is a greater death than ours to hearts that know the Lord. Surely it is the shadow of His death, the death of Psa. 22, that lies upon the whole scene of this world. The world in which our Lord was crucified is the valley of the shadow of death. Oh! for hearts to be more affected by His death. How far has the whole scene here closed for us, enwrapped in the shadow of that greatest death of all?
What is there then left for us? "THOU art with me." It is the Shepherd Himself proved more to the heart than all His precious care. He is more than all He can give. When the soul reaches this in its growth, shut up to Himself in a world closed to it by His cross, it is not merely that "I shall not want," but "MY Cu runneth over." He has brought us into the reality and blessedness of His own experience! He Himself, who once as Man on earth could say: "The Lord is the portion of My cup," now fills that cup to overflowing for us.