In Scripture oil is usually identified with the Holy Spirit.

Another interpretation is if we combine the first part and the second part of the 5th
verse, we read then:

• You provide delicious food for me and
• the presence of my enemies.
• You have welcomed me [ anointed me with oil ] as your guest;
• blessings overflow. TLB

Insects / parasites make the sheep.s lives a misery: there are warble flies, bot flies,
heal flies, nose (nasal) flies, deer flies, black flies, mosquitos, gnats, and other
winged parasites.
These flies are flying around the sheep everywhere: the nose, the heels, their heads.
If not taken care off, sheep become so frantic and panic, that they can't eat and
eventually kill themselves.

Some shepherds use a home remedy composed of linseed oil, sulphur, and tar.
Once the oil has been applied, gone is the aggravation, irritability, and the restlessness.

FROM SHEEP TO US

So often it is the small, petty annoyances that ruin our day.
As sheep need several applications, so do we a continuous anointing of God's gracious
Spirit to counteract the ever-present aggravations of personality conflicts.

• We need the daily anointing of God's gracious Spirit on our minds.
• God alone can form in us the mind of Christ.
• The Holy Spirit alone can give us the attitudes of Christ.
• He alone makes it possible for us to react to aggravations and annoyances with
  quietness and calmness.

And now no matter what storms you and I face, His very life and strength and vitality is
poured into ours.
It overflows so the cup of my life runs over with His life...often with great blessing and
benefit to others who see me stand up so well in the midst of trials and suffering.

APPLICATION

Member: Share one or two aggravations you cope with the most?

Group: What can he/she do to alleviate these annoyances / irritations / aggravations?

GEM*

"Goals are the foundation for
the attainment of our dreams.
Think of your ultimate goal.
Write it down what it will take to get there."

* adapted from: McAlindon, Harold R. Ed. A Pocket Course in Goal Setting.
Parlay International, 1993.

Start with the most popular book of our church: Steps to Christ [ SC ] any edition.
Read slowly to get more out of it.

Here is the online edition: Steps to Christ

SOURCE

Keller, Philip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Zondervan, 1970. ISBN 0-310-26790-0