Title: Meeting God at the Table
Contents
“You have rewarded me in the sight of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5a).
1. Introduction: The fourth reason to live with Jehovah God as shepherd
- The confession of the poet in Psalm 23 reaches its climax in the text. Now, in verse 5, the psalmist confesses more abundant grace and confesses the reason why Jehovah God is his shepherd. The two graces that he confesses with overwhelming joy are “the setting of a table in the sight of the enemy” and “the anointing of oil on his head.
2. Main article: reward me in the sight of my enemies
1) ‘table’
2) Characteristics of the table community in the Bible: brotherhood
- In Palestinian culture, sharing a table together means being brothers.
- The Israelites offered sacrifices together during the feast days, and all the people gathered to share a meal, confirming that they were one community in the covenant. Also, while Jesus was on this earth, He shared a table with sinners and healed them to repentance, and the last thing Jesus did with his disciples before he left was sharing the table. Also, the blessing promised to those who heard Jesus' voice and opened the door to receive Jesus was none other than, "I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). Sharing a table with that much meant a deep bond and brotherhood.
3) ‘Given’ award in ‘In the sight of enemies’
- The original Hebrew text says, “He has set a table for me in the sight of my enemies.” Here, ‘to give’ is the Hebrew verb ‘arak’ (&r’[;)’, which is a word meaning ‘to set out long’. This means not simply preparing one or two dishes, but placing a lot of food on a large table.
- The table that the poet received from God was a well-prepared supper. When the enemies saw the scene, they realized how precious and precious David was to the God of hosts who was with him, even though he was weaker than him. Seeing the sight of Jehovah, the God of hosts, who is mighty in battle, facing the table with the poet he was aiming for, his enemies could never treat him rudely.
- Through this, the poet deeply experienced how much God loves him and how great and precious it is to live in a family relationship with God. This is the reason why we are moved by God who has provided a table in the sight of our enemies.
3. Conclusion: The Importance of Relationships and Fellowship
There is no perfect and true happiness anywhere in the world. Our complete joy and happiness is only in having a relationship with and loving God in that relationship with God who created us into this world, who sent His Son to serve us in our wretched state beyond the purpose of creation.
- In the wretched state of an extremely painful life, God meets us through His Word. When we receive deep grace through those words, meet the Lord, and receive a large table from God, we have always treated God impersonally and lived apart from God, but we come to realize that God is always there and speaking.
- Like this poet's confession, we also need the experience of a relationship where rewards are given in front of our enemies. When we experience this, we realize how small we are, how great God is, and how great it is for God to be our shepherd. The greatest blessing that humans can enjoy on earth is to live in relationship with God.
I hope that you will become blessed saints who come before God through a life of faith that has personal obedience. 2004-01-11