A Banquet Amongst Foes

Psalm 23:1–6 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:5–6 NIV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Introduction: The Shift from Shepherd - Banquet in a House, but stays in Second Person when talking about enemies - For David the presenting Issue was God protecting him from his enemies. What does God do when we are surrounded by enemies?

10 - We have Many Foes.

1. Everyone struggles in life. We have many challenges that leave us questioning the presence of God. But David knew his shepherd well and had seen him provide in moments when the world around David seemed be collapsing. David walked through the valley of shadows and found himself surrounded by God’s light. David had seen moments when his enemies were all gathering around plotting his demise, but God chose those moments to set David up in front of all and show God’s allegiance to him. Jesus provides the same for all his followers as well. After all, he just does what he sees his Father doing.

For David his enemies were likely people who were trying to kill him - Saul or Absolom.

Psalm 22 - 23 Combination - They point to Jesus on the cross surrounded by his enemies - But for Jesus, Were his enemies religious rulers - Yes, But No. Father forgive them for they not not what they are doing. Ultimately his enemies were the powers, and principalities of this dark world.

So who are the enemies that might surround us?

- They can be other people who are out to get us or tear us down.

- False Teachers who want to lead the Church away from the Gospel of Jesus.

- Maybe they are barriers or challenges in life. We can name a whole bunch of them.

Frustrations, Injustices, Conflicts, Character Attacks, Health Scares or Concerns, Cancer, suffering, evils in this world

The Ultimate Enemies that underly of these can be summed up in three words, Sin, Satan, and Death.

What does this Psalm say God does with our enemies?

11 - God’s Abundance Still Flows.

1. Wiersbe explains, “Flat places in the hilly country were called ‘tables’ and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these ‘tables’ and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the fold (see 78:19). After each difficult day’s work, the aim of the shepherd was to bring the flock safely back to the fold where the weary sheep could safely rest for the night. Sometimes at the fold, the shepherd would spread out food in a trough, because sheep lie down and rest after they have eaten. As they slept, they would be protected by a stone wall that surrounded them, and the shepherd himself would sleep across the opening and be the door (John 10:7–9). … The Lord doesn’t always remove the dangers from our lives, but He does help us to overcome them and not be paralyzed by fear. … The shepherd would examine the sheep as they entered the fold to be sure none of them was bruised, injured, or sick from eating a poisonous plant. To the hurts, he applied the soothing oil, and for the thirsty, he had his large two-handled cup filled with water. He would also apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away” (Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Worshipful, “Be” Commentary Series [Colorado Springs: Cook Communications Ministries, 2004], 97, Logos).

- This is possible, but the language works well if we consider a house of refuge - We can picture David fleeing an enemy and coming to a house where he knows he will be taken in, fed, and protected from his enemies.

What he finds is an abundant meal, and amazing hospitality. VanGemeren says, “The overflowing pictures the Lord as giving the best to his child. It symbolizes the care and provisions of God, previously represented by ‘green pastures’ and ‘quiet waters.’

“The psalmist’s experience of God’s ‘goodness and love’ is equivalent to dwelling ‘in the house of the LORD.’ To eat and to drink at the table prepared by the Lord is a recognition of a covenant bond (cf. Kidner, 1:112). The covenant bond does not cease when one leaves the precincts of the tabernacle or temple” (Willem A. VanGemeren, “Psalms,” in Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary 5 [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1991], 218, Logos).

It reminds me of the meals Cindy and I shared with our hosts when we were in Uganda. - In that desert land we talked about last week, God provides just what we, need when we need it, but somehow with what seems like so little, God produces a smorgasbord. We were always amazed at how the Ugandans who seemed to have so little were able to provide an abundance for their guests.

What are the enemies seeing at this table?

1. Oil - Possible Uses Here. Oil was used to Anoint Priests and Kings (A Symbol of God's Empowerment in an office). Oil was used as a healing agent both symbolically, but also actually when it came to ailments of the skin. In this case the imagry of the Sheep we can picture a parched traveler or sheep in the wilderness coming to a place of rest in the fields of vegetation and sheeps were covered in oil to heal and protect their coat and skin.

In ancient Egypt a servant generally anointed the head of each guest as he took his place at the feast. - So also, it has been noted that the Host of the house when serving a banquet had people anointed generously with oil to heal their skin from their travels in the hot son to the place of the Banquet.

R. K. Harrison, “Oil,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 844.

My Cup Overflows - The Picture of abundance and generosity that God provides at his table - This overflow is intended to reach the enemies, and it is a picture of all you can drink in order to quench a dehydrated traveler sheep - literally restoring life and energy.

Surely Goodness and loyal love will pursue me all the days of my life - God is in stronger pursuit of us than the enemy is. Will you let him catch you or are you more worried about running from your enemies?

- We end the Psalm with a resurrection Idea - If we are in the Lord He dwells in us and us in him, and that is an ultimate protection from enemies, and the ultimate picture of being in God's presence.

God has put the table close enough to the fray so that those in the fray can hear what is going on. Christianity is not exclusively suited for sequestered moments between us and God. It's a relationship in the midst of the fray so that someone who needs to know there is something called abundance can lean over and listen to what is going on between us and the king. - Louie Giglio

he fact that this Psalm comes after Psalm 22 - My God, My God why have you forsaken me - God showed up for David at just the right time for protection

Louie Giglio's reasons for why God set the table in the presence of our enemies?

1. So that we can know that God is enough. None of us want trials, difficulties, or moments when we feel no one has our back. But those are the moments when we recognize God is real and is with us.

2. So our enemies can see that God is enough. God loves our enemies, and He wants them to have a witness. When we are looking at God, our faces reflect Him, and they begin to see God in us. We Reflect God's glory.

3. So that we can let our cup overflow. When we are focused on God, our cup overflows, and we have plenty of God's goodness to share with others. We find we can love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and speak well of those who are not speaking well of us.

Another familiar reason is vindication. - This is not a Neener, Neener, Neener type of vindication, but a type of redemptive vindication. Like Jesus, Read Peter's Gospel presentation on how this vindication works in His Death and Resurrection

Acts 3:12–19 NIV

When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. “Now, fellow Israelites, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

William C. Godfrey: “The good news of Psalm 23 is that God accomplishes all this even in the presence of our enemies. Those who enjoy fellowship with Christ by faith will be revived and satisfied in this life, even in spite of the best efforts of our enemies. They may oppose us, but Christ the Good Shepherd will lead us, and His goodness and mercy will pursue us, until we arrive safely home” (William C. Godfrey, “An Uncomfortable Table,” Table Talk, August 2021, https://tabletalkmagazine.com/daily-study/2021/08/an-uncomfortable-table/).

12 - God Invites Us to His Banquet.

David's Table - Surrounded by His Enemies - Saul or Absolum, but under both saved and vindicated as King.

Jim Poit - Threatened by an enemy - Aren't you scared, I am going to sue you. Jim's response, No, I truly believe in the Soveriegnty of God. He will work all things out.

The Nurse who came into Ben's room - You people are different. - The enemy in this case was not the Nurse, but Cancer, and she had a devine appointment to join us at the Lord's Table.

Jesus' Table - On the Cross surrounded by His enemies, My God, My God Why have you forsaken me, but then the Resurrection.

Conclusion: Communion