The twenty-third Psalm is perhaps the most well-known and most beloved of any Scripture in the Bible. It starts out declaring that God takes care of his people; he is their Shepherd. The Shepherd provides food (green pastures), drink (quiet waters), and life (he restores my soul). The Shepherd guides us where we need to go (he guides me in paths of righteousness), and protects us through even the worst of circumstances (even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me). Then at the end we have more comforting words: "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Is it any wonder that this is an all-time favorite passage of Scripture?
Just before the end, however, something strange happens. The Shepherd prepares a table before me with all the goodness of life; there is more goodness than I can take in (my cup overflows)! But notice who is there with me. My enemies!
My enemies!? What are they doing there? I don't want to sit at the table with all my enemies hovering over me, bearing down on me! My enemies (other people, stressful situations, my own attitudes, etc.) want to harm me; they make me stress out, they make me angry and depressed, they take away the joy of life! I want to get away from my enemies, not sit down at the table with them!
The psalm seems to be indicating that we will not always be able to get away from our enemies. What it also indicates is that when we are seated at God's table, our enemies have no power over us! They cannot harm us! They cannot stress us out. They cannot make us angry. They cannot make us act hatefully. They cannot depress us. They cannot take away our joy!
When we are seated at God's table, the Shepherd's table, the Lord's table. Kinda makes me think about Holy Communion. It also makes me think about the fellowship I enjoy by being around other people who belong to God.
Are your enemies getting the upper hand over you? Are you seated at the Lord's table? Are you spending enough time with the Lord and with his people?
Something to think about.
Be Blessed
Pastor Mark
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