23rd PSALM: Verse by Verse Series: 5

5. Thou preparest a table before me…

 

"Remember, the sheep are men—are people. They gather around the

Lord's table here in this world and in the one to come. The next time we sit at the table of the Lord, let us brush aside any thought that it is the table of the church. Let us meditate on the words, “Thou preparest a table before me.” The Lord prepares it; it is His. But it is for us.

And it is written: “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come” (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Shepherd supplies all our needs in the presence of our enemies. Now it is more than rest or work—it is conflict. He provides for us here in this world. It is wilderness food—the manna of His promise, and water out of the Rock. We eat it as the Israelites did in haste, staff in hand, and ready to march on.

But the day is coming when the Good Shepherd will call us to the

great supper in His kingdom. 

 

And all enemies will be gone forever. Here is the picture of that blessed state in Revelation 7:16-17, “They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

At feasts in Bible times, the heads of the distinguished guests were anointed with perfumed oil. The woman in the gospel story poured the box of precious ointment upon the head of our Lord, (Matthew 26:6-7) a custom which the host who had invited Him had shamefully neglected. So, too, the very sheep of the Lord's pasture are to be oil-anointed guests." BibleInfo