“The LORD is my shepherd… You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” [Ps 23:1,5 NKJV] “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” [Psalm 34:8]
Psalm 23, a familiar and beautiful psalm, was written by David. David, a shepherd himself, saw the Lord his God as his shepherd in the midst of his. The Lord provided everything he needed in his life.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” [Psalm 23:1 NKJV]
A good shepherd was diligent to lavish tender care upon his sheep. He was careful especially to find a pasture where the sheep might graze securely, freely and sumptuously. So as a good shepherd, David searched for the pastures, prepared them, and then led the sheep to enjoy the bounty of the pasture. He set the pasture as a table before them as an act of care and love.
David sees the Lord as his shepherd preparing the events in his life as a pasture the Lord has set before him. His enemies are around him, seeking to destroy him. Yet he beholds the bounty of his God as a table prepared, a banquet lavished with good blessings. The enemy could not destroy him; they could only watch him partake of the bounty of His Lord, his shepherd.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” [Psalm 23:5a]
You might even see this preparation as a celebration of victory! The Lord is my Shepherd. The enemy must come through my Shepherd to bring me harm. The enemy may only watch the sheep partake of the bounty upon the table of feasting for those whose Shepherd is the Lord. Behold, the Lord has prepared a feast of many good things:
“the bread of life” [John 6:35]
“living water” [John 4:10]
“wine of gladness” [Psalm 104:15]
“oil of joy” [Isaiah 61:3]
“honey from the rock” [Psalm 81:16]
“the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” [Galatians 5:22-23]
“every word of God” [Luke 4:4]
Let us pick up His words and eat them as the sustenance of our life. Let them sink into the depths of our souls where they may nourish us in the goodness of our Lord. Let them be our hope of life and peace of soul.
“Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” [Jeremiah 15:16]
As we walk in the pastures prepared by the Lord, our Shepherd, are we partaking of His feast for us?
“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” [Psalm 34:8]
“The LORD is my shepherd… You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” [Ps 23:1,5 NKJV] “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” [Psalm 34:8]
Valerie Graham 