It Starts Small

We all need guidance for decisions in life. David’s Psalm has moved from the iconic relationship of a shepherd and Sheep (Jesus and us) to all eyes on a host. Yesterday we talked about a wonderful table God is preparing and we are invited. What is interesting is what comes next:

In the presence of my enemies.

The word for table in this verse means “spread.” God is not speaking of just a little plate of food but a vast, massive feast. This is no ordinary meal. He sets before us row upon row of heavenly delights. There is only one guest at this meal: you.

Pause for a moment and think about that. You are so special and loved by our Heavenly Father, He is preparing you for a meal with just Him. You are His special guest!

To set the scene, God declares this feast a time for joy:

A feast is prepared for laughter,
and wine makes life happy,
and money is the answer for everything.

Ecclesiastes 10:19

As you dine, God anoints you with gladness.

You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy
more than your companions.

Psalm 45:7

Meanwhile, as you the Lord our God is serving you, in the shadows of the outer fringe, he makes your enemies sit and watch everything unfold. They see the Lord spread your table with the best of everything the Lord has to offer, His escorting of you to your table, and waiting upon you, they do not miss any details. They see everything. They watch as your soul is filled with heaven’s delightful fare.

Your enemies are in shock. No demon power, including the devil himself, could ever comprehend this kind of love, mercy and grace. All were sure God was going to strike you down for your failures. They were ready to gloat as you fell into despair. Now they have been ordered to watch as you feast on food served by God himself.

Jesus tells us the Father does this for all of his children:

Blessed will be those servants the master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will get ready, have them recline at the table, then come and serve them.

Luke 12:37

Who are these enemies?

In biblical terms, there are two kinds of enemies: the demonic kind and the human kind. In the 23rd Psalm, David is referring to demonic enemies. These represent the devil and all his hellish principalities and powers.

Jesus tells us:

and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

Matthew 13:39

When David speaks of his “strong enemy” in Psalm 18, he is talking about demonic hordes who hate him because of his strong walk with the Lord:

He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.

Matthew 17:18

Yet many of our enemies are not from hell. When Jesus tells us to “love your enemies,” he is talking about people in our life who have become tools used by Satan to make us miserable. David’s fleshly enemies caused him to cry:

Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I come to you for protection.

Psalm 143:9

You may have only a few human enemies because you move in a small circle. You may have an abundance of them because your sphere of influence is broader. In any case, if you have set your heart to follow Jesus, you will be an offense to many, including fleshly Christians. You will also be marked as a target by the devil. He will attack you physically and spiritually and stir up trouble for you among your human enemies.

In this sense, the Lord’s supernatural feast becomes even more amazing. Both classes of enemies have to sit by and watch as the Lord serves you! On one side are the devil and his hordes, while on the other side are your earthly enemies — and all watch as the Lord pours out his oil of gladness on you.

On the demonic side, the devil rages because he thought he surely had you. On the human side, God heaps your enemies with shame. His word says of the righteous:

I will clothe his enemies with shame,
but the crown he wears will be glorious.”

Psalm 132:18

As you dig into the glorious food before you, the Lord whispers in your ear, “You don’t have to worry about any of these enemies. They aren’t able to do anything against you.”

Though they intend to harm^[a] you
and devise a wicked plan, they will not prevail.

You are able to sing:

Then my head will be high
above my enemies around me;
I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy.
I will sing and make music to the Lord.

Psalm 27:6