Thou Preparest a Table

I have been trying to do some Bible memorization with my eldest son before bed. We started Psalm 23 last night which drew me to reflect further on what might be the most well-known Psalm of all. Like the Psalms do so well, chapter 23 provides a remedy for many of the issues we have in modern times: fear, panic, anxiety, hyper-activity, depression. Starting with the Shepherd and His relationship to the sheep, Psalm 23 deduces how this relationship transforms our life as well as out state of mind in the midst of varying circumstances. Because the Lord is our Shepherd we shall not want. He makes us lie down in green pastures and beside still waters. He restores our soul and leads us along the path of righteousness. Because He is with us, we will fear no evil in the valley of the very shadow death. His rod and His staff comfort us. In the presence of our enemies He prepares us a table. Spurgeon writes on this 5th verse:

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. The good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to God. Yet see the quietude of the godly man in spite of, and in the sight of, his enemies. How refreshing is his calm bravery! 'Thou preparest a table before me.' When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. But observe: 'Thou preparest a table,' just as a servant does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary peaceful occasion. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. Oh! the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! 'Let earth be all in arms abroad, They dwell in perfect peace.'"

It is easy to be so familiar with a verse that we brush past the depth of its meaning. I  assumed verse 5 to mean quite simply, because God is with us we are able to eat peaceably in the presence of our enemies, maybe not appreciating the weight of the term "enemies"--something David had known much about. I had not considered that perhaps: here the enemies come to fight against me, and yet on the verge of battle, in the teeth of opposition, "Thou preparest a table before me".  Here a feast is prepared the moment before the war and the child of God can sit in complete respite, eating his fill. "Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace."

Fear and panic are strong motivators and they very much characterize our present moment. I have seen many Christians, myself included, for some time buy into the world's hysteria of hopelessness. Like Spurgeon's soldier we are seen, not as complacent sheep in the presence of the Shepherd, but rather scarfing a quick meal in a state of hurried unease. We feel the walls closing in and we despair at the growing darkness. We man our battle stations with alarm and clench at our weapons with vice grips, unable to pull our minds from the possibilities of what might happen next.

We know better. With the Lord as our Shepherd we shall not want. It does not matter the crisis we face, it does not matter if it is the shadow of death itself, “I will fear no evil for thou art with me.”

One can stare too much at the madness of the world. It is an easy trap to become glued to its raging fury and its very likely destination. This should not be any surprise to us, however, for this has been the story of the world throughout human history. The Bible itself tells us the world will look like this. The world has always been broken; there has always been more bad news than good news. But as Carl Henry said so well, "Early Christians didn't say 'look what the world is coming to!' but 'look what's come into the world!'" We have a Good Shepherd who brings with Him good news for an out of control time in an out of control world. "Look what's come into the world!" "The children walking in darkness have seen a great light!" "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said." "Come see a man who told me everything, I ever did!" 

This, right here, is a message to dwell and fixate on; here is sustaining food for a weary soul. And as we hold to that good news in the shadow of our Shepherd we can say with a stayed certainty:

"Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."