Sheep Eat From Tables and Drink From Cups?

Have you ever studied a topic with more variations than the 23rd Psalm?
I have been trying to recall one of the many different interpretations which I much prefer over many others for its imagery. Even with such tools as the internet, I have not been able to find any information to support my favorite 23rd Psalm expository. Without a reference, I have decided to give to you what I am able to remember of it. And, if you happen to locate a source that appears to represent what I am relaying to you, will you please post the source in the comment section?


Psalm 23:5:
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.


When I read or hear scripture, I often catch ambiguities that I just can not allow to go without being understood. So, much of what I write reflects my curiosity. I can imagine that the 23rd Psalm takes on so many interpretations for such reasons as my curiosity. I mean, how does one ‘prepare a table’ for sheep or provide a sheep with a ‘cup’ to drink from?

As I recall a particular expository on the 23rd Psalm, the minister spoke of sheep defending the entire flock by expelling an ill sheep. It appears that the motive is to prevent illness from being spread within the fold. So, for the sickened lamb, it is difficult to find rest for recuperating.

Now, Jesus, He refers to himself as the “Good Shepherd”. I guess there were bad shepherds. Some studying on this subject indicated that a shepherd’s ability was weighed by the appearance of his flock. You see, at times, a flock would be comprised of many sheep from many individual households. An entire town would entrust their sheep to hired shepherds.

So, the ‘good shepherd’ would spot the ill fallen sheep and protect it from the flock by preparing a “table”.

The “table” consisted of a choice plot of vegetation. The shepherd would lead the ill sheep to and cause it to lie down to graze. To create boundaries for preventing other sheep from invading the choice plot, the shepherd would surround the ill sheep on four sides with objects the sheep would be leery of, or they simply recognized and respected. These objects were the shepherd’s cloak, the staff, and the club. On the open end, the shepherd himself would lie down and close the perimeter around the ill sheep.

The latter part of this verse describes a “cup” running over. As if to say there is plenty. The minister giving this sermon told of a trough that would have been hewed out of soft sand stone. Water in the trough would become warm under the heat of the sun. So, the shepherd would continue to flow cool water into the trough, providing an overflowing ‘cup’ of cool, hydration until the sheep had been quenched.

To say this is the absolute definition of the “table” and “cup” would fall short of validation. However, I see the probability of this verse being defined accurately in the above statements by virtue of logic. And, as I love to evaluate Biblical imagery according to customs, I think the imagery in verse 5 can be logically reasoned with, even if I do not have any references to support the expository.