Psalm 23:5 Sit at God's Table

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

This is my favorite verse in Psalm 23. Why? Because it reveals God's grace and loving care, and it doesn't depend on me or on my choices.

God is faithful and true to His character, whether we are faithful or not. Even in our disobedience, God is with us and cares for us.

David knows a lot about enemies, even though he is young. He serves King Saul who is plagued by evil spirits and, quite often, Saul turns against him and attacks him. As David gets older, he leads King Saul's armies out to face Israel's fierce enemies and defeats them. 

Through it all, David relies on God. He doesn't assume God will give him earthly victory, but he knows God is there to sustain him and to provide protection for him. 


You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 
What a comforting picture, especially when we feel like we are surrounded by enemies. He prepares a table - a table where we can sit and catch our breaths for a bit. 
A table full of the food of Scripture to sustain us. A table with the cooling, refreshing water of His presence to encourage us.  

You anoint my head with oil.
Oil symbolizes richness, honor; it shows how much the anointer cherishes the person he anoints. 
God Himself anoints David. 
God Himself anoints us as we sit at His table. He expresses how cherished we are to Him. Though we might be surrounded by enemies, He anoints us with the richness of His strength, courage, and the assurance of certain victory in Christ. 

My [David's] cup overflows.
David could make no greater statement of faith and gratitude to his Lord. 
How often do I praise God for His goodness in the midst of my enemies?
Even in difficult circumstances, our cups overflow with God's love, sustaining power, and strength. When we are exhausted, we are refreshed and restored by His presence. 

What tender care the Father bestows on us in our time of need. Often we're too focused on the need to see how much He cherishes us. A deep love that led Jesus to the cross and anoints us with His presence every day.

How has God fed you at His table in difficult times? 

Those Who Are Merciful

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy. Matthew 5:7

Blessed (loved and favored by God) are the merciful (not those who only express acts of mercy but those who do so as an expression of  God's character) for they will obtain mercy (receive God's graciousness when He frees them from deserved punishment).

I was a little hung up on the word obtain in this scripture. To obtain something generally means you have to work for it, pay for it, or earn it in some other way.

My New Testament Word Dictionary clarified the meaning for me and proved what I already knew to be true:

It's impossible to earn God's favor and love. Jesus purchased that on the cross for believers. 

Sometimes, it's easy to be merciful. Some things are easy to forgive. Most of the time I stumble. I'm too angry, feel betrayed, or I've been hurt too much. Surely God wouldn't expect me to show mercy to that person!

But remember, that's exactly what He did for us when He gave His only Son.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were 

still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his 

Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Romans 5:10

Be still for a moment and reflect on God's extreme mercy. Where would we be without it? He loves us beyond our comprehension. He took us when we stood in unbelief, lived as sinners, and were His enemies to bring us to faith through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son. 

Amazingly, God's grace and mercy pour on us even more. He filled us with the Holy Spirit and He empowers us to express His character to those around us. He understands our humanness but He's there to give us the help we need to allow His mercy to flow to the others around us. 

We serve a God of infinite love, grace,   and mercy! 

How long has it been since I rejoiced in Him?

What about God causes you to rejoice? 

Put God Inbetween

Put God between you and your foe. Streams in the Desert, January 5

A couple years ago, a friend and I went to one of my favorite places, the zoo. We were oohing and ahhing over a baby elephant when someone's cell phone rang. What happened next was beautiful. Three elephants ran over and surrounded the startled baby. This memory came to mind when I read my devotion yesterday morning.

The adult elephants put themselves between the baby and the danger.

When something frightening enters our world, how does God respond?

When troubles loom, will He surround me and protect me? Will He stand guard between me and the problem to prevent it from harming me? All my life experience tells me that, although He might intervene, the vast majority of the time He allows the situation to occur.

Then what does this sentence mean: Put God between you and your foe?

The key is in this question: who or what is our foe?

• Is my empty bank account my foe?
• What about your sick child – is the illness your foe?
• A broken down car?
• A struggling marriage?

Are these situations our foes? Are our circumstances our enemies? The answer is found in Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

The peace of God…will guard our hearts and minds.

In any situation, our enemies are the things that attack our hearts and minds.

• Fear
• Hopelessness
• Despair
• Anger
• Bitterness
• Helplessness

We can call on God to stand between us and the foes that assault us. His peace, promises, and power surround our hearts and protect us from the enemies that try to weaken our faith and trust.

Our Father promises that, when we call on Him, He will come.

He won’t hear and just stand by.

He won’t ignore us.

He will COME.

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2

Are you facing enemies in your heart and mind? Call upon the Lord!

When have you called the Lord to bring His peace to surround your heart?

Photo credit: Kenn W Kiser via morguefile.com