"You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings."--Psalm 23:5 (NLT)
Isn't it interesting that God does not prepare a feast/table for us in the presence of friends? The word says he prepares a table "in the presence of my enemies" or the Hebrew, "tsarar "--meaning "whatever binds, causes distress, seizes; it speaks of hostility, what vexes, an enemy". Enemies could be people, negative self-talk and thoughts, negative emotions, lies we believe about ourselves based upon labels and messages we have received from others. An enemy is anyone or anything that opposes the truth of the spoken word of God.
Whomever or whatever the "enemies" are in your life, God has prepared a table for you, in their presence. What must you do? Sit down and eat! Enjoy what God has prepared for you. Enjoy a rich, lavish, and abundant feast of peace, joy, health, restoration, prosperity, and blessings. The table has been set for you!
When God had released Saul from his position as king, he told Samuel to find another king and anoint his head with oil (I Samuel 16); a symbol of blessings. Samuel went to the house of Jesse. Jesse proudly paraded his sons before Samuel. These were strong, rugged, mighty men who were soldiers in Saul's army. Despite the physical attributes, God told Samuel that none of them were to be the new king. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other children. Jesse's response a rather lack-luster yes. He referenced little, lowly David--the shepherd boy on the backside of the desert tending sheep. Samuel instructed them to get David, because they would not sit down to the feast until he got there. When Samuel saw the little, ruddy, dirty shepherd-boy he knew he found the one God had chosen! Immediately, David was anointing King of Israel, while his father and brothers watched.
Despite being rejected and overlooked by his family, David rose to a place of prominence, influence, and regard because God prepared a table for him. When God prepares a table for you, it is set. You have a reserved seat that no one can take! In fact, no one else can eat until you sit down in the place God has prepared for you.
It must have felt slightly awkward for David, coming from the field to a feast. But that is how the kingdom of God works. He confounds the wise (I Corinthians 1:27) by doing things that may not make logical sense to a natural mind. He takes the least likely candidate, and prepares a beautiful table in the presence of those who have written him or her off. All he requires is that we come to the table, sit down, and eat!
Isn't it interesting that God does not prepare a feast/table for us in the presence of friends? The word says he prepares a table "in the presence of my enemies" or the Hebrew, "tsarar "--meaning "whatever binds, causes distress, seizes; it speaks of hostility, what vexes, an enemy". Enemies could be people, negative self-talk and thoughts, negative emotions, lies we believe about ourselves based upon labels and messages we have received from others. An enemy is anyone or anything that opposes the truth of the spoken word of God.
Whomever or whatever the "enemies" are in your life, God has prepared a table for you, in their presence. What must you do? Sit down and eat! Enjoy what God has prepared for you. Enjoy a rich, lavish, and abundant feast of peace, joy, health, restoration, prosperity, and blessings. The table has been set for you!
When God had released Saul from his position as king, he told Samuel to find another king and anoint his head with oil (I Samuel 16); a symbol of blessings. Samuel went to the house of Jesse. Jesse proudly paraded his sons before Samuel. These were strong, rugged, mighty men who were soldiers in Saul's army. Despite the physical attributes, God told Samuel that none of them were to be the new king. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any other children. Jesse's response a rather lack-luster yes. He referenced little, lowly David--the shepherd boy on the backside of the desert tending sheep. Samuel instructed them to get David, because they would not sit down to the feast until he got there. When Samuel saw the little, ruddy, dirty shepherd-boy he knew he found the one God had chosen! Immediately, David was anointing King of Israel, while his father and brothers watched.
Despite being rejected and overlooked by his family, David rose to a place of prominence, influence, and regard because God prepared a table for him. When God prepares a table for you, it is set. You have a reserved seat that no one can take! In fact, no one else can eat until you sit down in the place God has prepared for you.
It must have felt slightly awkward for David, coming from the field to a feast. But that is how the kingdom of God works. He confounds the wise (I Corinthians 1:27) by doing things that may not make logical sense to a natural mind. He takes the least likely candidate, and prepares a beautiful table in the presence of those who have written him or her off. All he requires is that we come to the table, sit down, and eat!
