Monday, January 28, 2008
You Prepare a Table Before Me in the Presence of My Enemies
I can't tell you how struck I was by the thought that I saw it all wrong. I now see the 5th verse of the 23rd Psalm totally different! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. The thought that this verse is not so much about me gaining the upper hand on my enemies by God blessing me before them. As a disciple of Christ I can't imagine as I sit at Jesus' feet he would actually say, "I will bless you in front of all of your foes so you can feel good and they can feel bad." No!!!! Now keep in mind God does favor those who have committed their lives to Him. He will use our divine favor to convict others of sin and convince them of His grace. But more and more I don't believe that is the point of the verse in the 23rd Psalm. After dealing with years and years of conflict resolution and forgiveness and reconciliation work with church members and husbands and wives I see this verse totally different. Could it be this verse is about God getting all of us together in table fellowship. Where as in ancient times the host offers peace and renewed relationship with those at his table. God does the same for us. Shepherding us; leading us to His table. Where we are forgiven and find our way back into right relationship with Him. Where we then have an opportunity to offer peace to our enemies at that same table. We forgive them because God has forgiven us. My prayer: Peace please give way to peace.