A Prepared Table

Psalm 23

In the last 3 ½ years since I have been writing these devotionals about the Scripture passages from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer, we have looked at the 23rd Psalm several times.  Psalm 23 is one of the world’s most beloved passages of Scripture.  It is one passage that even unbelievers are usually familiar with.  Today I would like to focus on the last two verses, verses 5 and 6.  We will see how God not only protects and provides for us, but He does so right in front of our enemies, as a testimony of His love for us.

One characteristic of an enemy is that they sure don’t wish us good. They aren’t looking out for our well-being.  On the contrary, they want to see something bad happen to us, and rejoice when it does!  They enjoy kicking us when we’re down, and certainly don’t care or want our needs to be supplied.  David knew plenty of this kind of treatment.  For many years he had to live on the run from King Saul and his men, and also from the armies of Israel’s enemies.  David couldn’t even depend on help or care from his own family.  His brothers put him down, and his own father Jesse didn’t even consider him when the prophet Samuel asked Jesse to have all of his sons gathered.  To his own father, David was a no-account, and wasn’t even considered worth calling to that gathering.

As David penned this psalm, he recounted how on many occasions the Lord had come through for him, and vindicated him in front of his enemies.  God not only delivered him from their hands, He prepared a table for him in his enemies presence (vs. 5).  Would the table set by God be one with paper plates and a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?  I wouldn’t think so!  The table set by God would be a banquet with the best china!  Sometimes this comes in our lifetime, when God will pour His blessings upon us right in front of those who are knocking us down.  God made sure that Samuel had David summoned in front of his family, and there anointed him Israel’s future king.  Later when he actually took the throne, his family was present, as well.  In heaven, all believers will be called to God’s banquet table, and those who were our enemies will see this, as well.

God also anoints our head with oil, and not just a little, but a dousing.  The imagery of anointing is frequently associated with blessing.  Someone who is anointed with oil is sanctified and set apart for a holy purpose, as David was when Samuel anointed him with oil.  Anointing oil is also symbolic of the Holy Spirit, which all believers receive when they accept Jesus as their Savior.  We don’t receive just a tiny portion of the Holy Spirit, He comes to dwell within us.  Our cup runs over.  In the ancient Middle Eastern culture, it was customary to anoint a person with fragrant oil at banquets.  Hosts were expected to protect their guests at all costs.  God offers protection as our Host, even when enemies are surrounding us.

In addition, shepherds of the past would often pour oil on the heads of the sheep to soothe and cleanse any wounds they may get while grazing.  It also often would keep some insects away.  Yahweh is the God of more than enough, providing for our every need.  Our enemies witness the goodness and faithfulness of God poured into our lives.

God is the perfect Shepherd and Host, promising to guide and protect us through life, and bring us into His house forever (vs. 6).  Knowing he was God’s child, David knew he would have close fellowship with Him to the end of his days and beyond.  During life we may not always see goodness and mercy ahead of us.  When we look back, though, we can see all the ways God has helped us.  We can know that wherever the Lord leads us, our ultimate destination is an eternal dwelling place of joy.

The Hebrew word for “follow” in this psalm is “radaph”, which means to run after, chase, hunt, or pursue.  That is how David describes goodness and mercy would go after us, relentlessly hunting us down like a hunting dog going after prey.  That is how God’s love goes after us.  God doesn’t give just goodness alone, for we are sinners and need His mercy.  He doesn’t give mercy alone, for we are fragile, and need His goodness.  Goodness to provide for us, and mercy to pardon us.  They follow us, not just some of the time, but all of our days.  We are securely held in our Shepherd’s nail-scarred hands.