You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies
David’s reference to table as suggested by Philip Keller may mean the high country where the mountain top would be high, flat-topped plateaus where the best grazing would be found. (A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23)
You prepare a table.. David may have the picture of the trips he would take with the sheep to the high country for the summer. The shepherd would always go before the sheep clearing the path of poisonous weeds and flowers. The shepherd would prepare the table or the pastures where the flock would feed. In studying the root words, I found it interesting that the root word “shulchan” or table is “shalach” with means to send forth. The shepherd would be sent forth to prepare the best grazing pastures for his flock. This word then translated to the Greek for the New Testament is the word apostle which is “one sent”. “The function of an apostle, based upon the background of the meaning of the word is to prepare a table or to provide a proper setting of food to those who are hungry. The apostle’s ultimate responsibility is to provide the only true food that YHVH (LORD adonai) has given to mankind.” (www.wildbranch.org a word study by Brad Scott)
The Hebrew word “shulchan” for table means to feast as in “at the king’s table”. How appropriate for us as Christians that Jesus has gone to prepare a feast for us at the king’s’ table. The marriage supper of the lamb where all believers from all ages will join together with our Savior to celebrate his bride the church and Jesus.
You prepare a table for me?
Jesus took on human flesh so he could encounter every temptation known to us and was still without sin. He has gone before us, totally identifying with humanity.
We can appreciate the price he paid each time we come to his table of remembrance during communion. While we are here, he commanded that we “do this in remembrance of His body and blood.” The sacrifice of His body and blood paid the ransom for all our sin. One day we will join with him at his table where we will celebrate with all the saints.
What a feast at the king’s table that will be!
The Shepherd goes before his sheep to prepare a place for them
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies
Isn’t that what we all want? To come to the table with our enemies?
Nope! I don’t think so!! We don’t even want to come to the same room where our enemies are. What was David thinking?
We have seen that most of David’s psalms come from his life experiences. You can read his story in I Samuel 16 through the end of the book. David knew about having dinner with his enemy. Saul would call for David to play his harp and then go into a jealous rage and throw his spear at him. (I Samuel 18: 10-11) David was pursued by Saul and his armies for years.
Who is my enemy?
We are reminded who our enemy is many times in scripture. He is the accuser of the brothers and sisters, it is not flesh-and blood, but evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world. He is like a roaring lion seeking to devour.
Revelation 12:10 New Living Translation
“Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,’It has come at last–salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth–the one who accuses them before our God day and night.’”
Ephesians 6:12 New Living Translation (NLT)
“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”
I Peter 5:8. “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
Knowing who our enemy is will help us keep our focus in the right place. Our enemy is not each other. We can rest knowing our Good Shepherd, Jesus, has taken care of the enemy. Satan, the enemy of God and therefore the enemy of God’s children, loves to cause dissension. His tools are confusion, doubt and fear!
But Jesus has already won the victory over Satan.
Colossians 2:15 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
“When he had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”
Jesus has disarmed Satan and his army. He made a public display of them! Because we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we have the victory. We just need to walk in it. Jesus has delivered me and you from our strong enemy.
Psalm 18:17 “He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.”
ARE YOU PREPARED? When Jesus comes to get his bride for the marriage supper will you be prepared?
I Corinthians 13:12 (NLT) “Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”
I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me
https://youtu.be/s5ltMZla3J8
You Prepare a table by Paul Baloche
