“You prepare a table before me ...”

Ps. 23

Psalm 23 ESV

A PSALM OF DAVID. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

In Psalm 23 we read:

“You prepare a table before me … (you host me as if I were royalty …)

and my cup overflows!

Surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life!”

ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE/ ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE?

What has been the good times in your lifetime?

What has been the testing times?

Brother, sister, friends … who are being called into faith in a most gracious Saviour

… has this been your experience, all of your life?

– Is your cup of happiness overflowing right now?

HAS HAPPINESS AND GOODNESS AND LOVE FOLLOWED YOU ALL THE DAYS OF YOUR LIFE?

What has been your earliest and subsequent memories of the good times?

What has been your earliest memories of a time of sorrow or pain or grief?

My first reaction is to say: It hasn’t for me!

– Often times I have felt nothing like the honoured guest, invited to feast, where the table has been set and I was asked to sit in an honoured position …

And you? Are you comfortable there where you are sitting … as you recall your life even now, I hope …

Has your life has been a bed of Roses, no?

No heartache or unhappiness, no sorrow?

“I still remember when I first started understanding what living/life meant …

… I soon realised, almost from the start, there was a menace to it - such has been my life ...”

“I soon learnt that there is good and bad in this life, that “life” has as it counterpoint – death!”

To “live,” I learnt, is good; and to die (death) is bad! (even such was my simple understanding - at age five already!)

I had as a young boy, a little fox terrier … we had him since he was a puppy: Johnnie!

One day – I was five years old and we were living in Swaziland, in Mbabane …

(It was a carefree time in my life, mostly …) – one day I came across my dog,

my friend, and he lay there, strangely still!

Johnnie had died … !

Suddenly, I understood what “sad” meant – and still means!

I really don’t remember much of my parent’s explanation of death,

Even as we held a play, play funeral for Johnnie …

but I did understand he was no longer alive, full of fun and games - he was empty of life!

DEATH!

What is death?

(continue to next slide!)

“Death” is the opposite of “Life”!

(Later, of course, gradually, in God’s time, I would learn more about death, when both my parents passed away,

first mom … then dad - while I was relatively young, 20 and 39 respectively).

(Little did I know when I was five, learning about funerals even then,

that death and the dying - and funerals … would become such an integral part of my life!)

The one is removed from the other - “as far as the East is removed from the West!”

*! This much I got: Death, was the opposite of life! (as far as the East is removed from the West!)

BUT WHY?

Why is there such a thing (such a state) as “death” in the world?)

Death is the result of Man’s rebellion

Death is the certain sign that God keeps His promises!

Romans 5: 12

Romans 5:12 NIV

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

Already at the beginning of creation, God made it clear that the wages of sin, is death (Gen 2: 16 - slide!)

Genesis 2:16 HCSB

And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden,

Which makes the next question almost superfluous! But people ask, anyway!

But, why? Why is there so often so much suffering in the world - Isn’t God supposed to be a “good” God?

If death is the result of Sin! then it follows there is no death where there is no sin

- except in one instance,

when for a moment, Jesus was made to be the Sin that we committed and keep on committing! -

and that was so that the effect of sin, death, could finally be overturned!

Friends, looking back on the 61 years of my life

it would be my lot to be involved with death.

Throughout my life, I would learn about death …

almost as if it was preparing me for something

First from personal experience, even as a young boy and a teenager...

like when my older brother attempted to commit suicide - twice!;

later, as a young man, as policeman and a journalist,

at accident scenes and at murders

as a lad growing up in South Africa, with its violence and terrorism and bomb explosions ...

It was only later, though - perhaps I can say “much later”

that I would start to realise that it was not all for nothing!

Later on, I would realise – vividly! – that it was, and is all part of a process of most necessary reminding!

((And I hope this morning will remind you, too!))

You see, it is as we remember God

- remembering Him to be Almighty God, a Merciful God, a Loving God

- but a most righteous, Just God (who is incapable of lying!)

- even as we see Him thus revealed in Scripture

and as we come to believe it personally, in our own experience

, that we heed the warnings of God!

And here’s the beauty of is all -

God continues to patiently warn us, reminding us, of His love - and His justice

-far more than we ever deserve,

so that all who believe in Him will never perish, but have life in abundance!

God has no joy in people forgetting Him - their maker!

And for that, it is often necessary that we are reminded, that we are disciplines, like a parent disciplines a child!

That is what happens to Israel, as you will see!

That is what is happening to us - if only we would see!

God is patiently warning us, reminding us, of His love - and His justice -

>>(What I am hoping that you will see this morning, as I have since seen and believed

is that almsot without exception, we grow most intensely, in the moments of our suffering!

That often, is is God’s way of purifying us:

1 Peter 1:6–8 NIV

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

It is as we are most sad, that we are most open for consolation and comfort. To whom will we turn?

It is as we consider death, that we learn to understand life more vividly! Who will be our Comfort?

It has been death, bitter death, that has made me think, ever more urgently, about the sweetness of life - even the promise of everlasting life which we have in Jesus!

This morning, we will again taste and touch the very truth of this,

as we eat the bread and drink the wine!

Te Lord’s Supper is the supreme reminder of the true love of God!

Even as it points to the greatest injustice ever perpetrated on the face of this earth!

The execution of Jesus on the Cross by the world!

It was not all for nothing!

It reminds us, you see, that just as death came into the world through one man,

so Life was restored to this world and the world to come, by one man - Jesus!

It is as we celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection - a sure, visible sign that death was overcome

- that life has been restored to what it was meant to be!

It is, also, a constant reminder of the freedom we have, to choose ... - to live or to die!

Also that, is something Christ has made clear to us in His suffering and death!

Friends, when are we most starkly reminded of what it means to be alive?

When we are at a loved one’s funeral, or cremation, isn’t it?

When we are there at the last moments of a father or mother or child’s life, at his or her death bed! Isn’t that true?

And now we might ask ...

What has all of this got to do with Israel in the desert, or Communion, the Lord’s Supper?

ISRAEL IN THE DESERT - A FORESHADOWING OF GOD’S REDEMPTION!

But, again, with all this death and suffering in the world, what joy would a loving God get from it?

The answer is, “no joy!” Except, that we might be reminded to remember God - and live!

That was the lesson Israel needed to learn!

Deuteronomy 8:19 HCSB

If you ever forget the LORD your God and go after other gods to worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will perish.

Suffering, even death! – as we experience it in our own lives - is often God’s way of reminding us

that we are exercising our freedom to choose – to our own destruction!

And in God’s Grace and Mercy, when we forget God,

He graciously, constantly warns us, disciplines us ...

That is what Deuteronomy is all about!

LINGERING IN THE DESERT OF DEATH WITH ISRAEL, OR ALIVE IN THE PROMISED LAND WITH CHRIST?

Death, which is a product of suffering, which is the product of sin,

In God’s gracious providence, may be His means

to remind us that He is God – and Holy - and that we are not!

That God is allmighty God, and knows all things in the heavens above and on the earth beneath

- and we do not! (even in this 21st century)

And in Deuteronomy, we are reminded of that! - Israel, in their suffering, is reminded of it!

We had better start remembering who God is!

God gave Israel exactly enough time (God knows how much time we need - we do not!) to remember it all?

40 years time, in their case!

He reminded them in stark and visible ways that He, God, is a mighty warrior: Dt. 1. 4

Deuteronomy 1:4 NIV

This was after he had defeated Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, and at Edrei had defeated Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth.

(See maps)

And … remember when God last assured you He would go before you, leading you into the promised land? Dt. 1. 29-31

Did God not deliver you, Israel? God is a Gracious Saviour! He alone is worthy of complete trust!

God is constantly assuring us - through His Word, through our experiences!

Deuteronomy 1:29–31 HCSB

“So I said to you: Don’t be terrified or afraid of them! The LORD your God who goes before you will fight for you, just as you saw Him do for you in Egypt. And you saw in the wilderness how the LORD your God carried you as a man carries his son all along the way you traveled until you reached this place.

And yet, In spite of you knowing what God had done in Egypt , and in the desert (and in your life!), you do not trust God?

(When you question God’s goodness, in stead of trusting him,

can it be that it is because you have forgotten God’s goodness?)

An illustration of trust: The story of Dirkie, lost in the desert after a plane crash: as part of his father’s search for him, the father charters a helicopter to drop flyers over a vast area of the desert, in the region where they believed they would most likely find Dirkie. The flyer had just one sentence printed on it: “Dirkie, I love you, and I will find you: “Dirkie, ek het jou lief, ek sal jou kry!”

Dirkie finds one of these flyers! By now he is severely dehydrated; a scorpion has stung him - and he is drifting in and out of consciousness as he drags himself along in the desert, desperate for help. And as he struggles on, he keeps muttering: “My dad loves me; he will find me! My dad loves me, he will find me” -

The film ends where he is indeed found and there is a tearful, but happy reunion. Dirkie’s trust, you see, kept him going; and his dad’s faithfulness, kept him looking for his child until he found him!

Trust does not come easily for Israel. They are to self-reliant, you see! Every time the going got tough, they forgot the saving grace of God! They had witnessed, even experienced God’s powerful salvation: first from Egypt, where they were slaves; when hunger and thirst came upon them, God had sent quails and manna; he had provided water from a rock; he speaks to them from the thunder and fire, showing to be almighty God - but do they trust Him? Do they remember the deeds He has doen? No!

Dt. 1: 32-33

Deuteronomy 1:32–33 HCSB

But in spite of this you did not trust the LORD your God, who went before you on the journey to seek out a place for you to camp. He went in the fire by night and in the cloud by day to guide you on the road you were to travel.

God promised he would save Israel, and He did; but did they remember His mighty deeds? No!

And God has promised He will save those who trust Him!

When we remember what God has done, we will remember to remember Him and we will trust Him!

B&S, that is something especially to remember

as you search your hearts before you come to the Lord’s table:

When you come to the Lord’s table, you do not declare that you are sinless,

But that you BELIEVE! that Jesus has, in God’s plan,

died in your stead for your sins – even though Jesus Himself was sinless!

And here, really, we have the crux of the matter! – That death (Jesus’ death!)

became LIFE! for those who would put their trust in Him!

That is what the Gospel is about! That is what this Communion morning is about!

AND THAT IS GOD’S ULTIMATE, VISIBLE, TANGIBLE REMINDER THAT GOD IS TRUE TO HIS PROMISES!

“I’m sorry … again ...: what exactly has God done?”

Here, you see, really, we have the crux of the matter! –

That which we commemorate today, death (Jesus’ death!)

became LIFE! for those who would put their trust in Him!

He trusted God when we would not; He obeyed God when we would not; He who was sinless was made Sin for us, so that we might live - and never again die!

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

That is what the Gospel is about! That is what this Communion morning is about!

Jesus’ death became LIFE! for those who would put their trust in Him!

SO HOW ARE WE TO RESPOND?

Deuteronomy 8:1 NIV

Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors.

To live like Jesus did!

Jesus, when we failed miserably, kept every command,

so that we may live - even though in our disobedience, we should have died!

Those who fix their trust on Jesus, will live!

Those who do not and who will not, they are dying,

slowly but surely, and finally, when their hour comes! Then it is too late!

Friends, we see it all around us:

Is it not sin - a denial of God’s majesty …

as we disobey His rules, His commandments,

that leads to death?

Is it not our lack of trust in Him (which, really, if you think about it)

Simply put, is our denying that all things are possible for God

… that leads to worry, that leads to our faith waning,

which leads to unbelief – which leads to death?

When we are obedient to Christ Jesus, what will the result be?

We will be invited - and welcomed at a feast!

Here’s how David describes it in Psalm 23!

Psalm 23 ESV

A PSALM OF DAVID. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 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 goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Why should we remember the Lord our God?

Because it leads to Life in abundance - everlasting Life in the presence of our Maker!

Just like a shepherd leads his flock, so did God - and He still does - lead His people.

Israel is reminded of this as Moses preaches to them his second last sermon before he will die,

far from the land of his birth, a lonely grave, within eyesight of the promised land - but not in it!

And yet he remembers what the Lord has done for him … for Israel … for all who will put their trust in God!

(“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Why should we remember what the Lord has done for us!

Because to forget is to forget our maker - and then we become unmade!

What did God do for us? And why did He do what He did? Deut. 8: 2

Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV

Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.

This was no whimsical, impulsive reaction from God that you found yourselves in the desert, with all of its hardship and suffering, for 40 years!

It was to purify you! It was to humble you (verse 2!); to test you in order to know what was in your heart!

And what was the test?

Whether you would remember God and all that he had done for you!

What is the test, exactly?

Whether or not you would keep His commandments!

In all your travels, through all your hardship,

God was preparing you to be an invited guest at a feast

- a feast, like at a wedding even!

Yes, Israel, throughout your trials and tribulations, God, like a shepherd, was leading you!

(How can you forget his goodness and kindness! - He led you to quiet waters!

When the waters of the Reed see threatened to block your escape route from the Egyptians,

God made the rushing waters yield - they turned into “quiet” waters, allowing you safe passage

- that is what the Lord has done!

When hostile peoples threatened to annihilate you, God, by His mighty staff protected you!

- How can you forget that?

Do you see, now? You were in grave danger, Israel!

But there were lessons you needed to learn! (There are lessons we all need to learn - and God continues to teach us!)

How?

Deuteronomy 8: 3

Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Almighty God finds no joy or satisfaction in the destruction of a righteous person!

And you,on the grounds of your calling,

by grace alone, through faith (trust) alone, are righteous!

But you are so quick to forget God! - B&S … don’t forget God!

You will die!

How are we able to show we have not forgotten God?

Deuteronomy 8: 6

Deuteronomy 8:6 NIV

Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him.

So … why again - why should we obey God and walk in His ways and revering Him?

Because if you do, in God’s righteous mercy … you will live!

Deuteronomy 8:7–8 NIV

For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey;

That is what the Lord has done for you! That is why you should not forget the Lord your God!

A PICTURE OF THE FEAST THAT AWAITS YOU!

Do you want to see a picture of the feast that awaits you; the same feast promised in ?

Rev. 19: 5-10

Revelation 19:5–10 HCSB

A voice came from the throne, saying: Praise our God, all His slaves, who fear Him, both small and great! Then I heard something like the voice of a vast multitude, like the sound of cascading waters, and like the rumbling of loud thunder, saying: Hallelujah, because our Lord God, the Almighty, has begun to reign! Let us be glad, rejoice, and give Him glory, because the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has prepared herself. She was given fine linen to wear, bright and pure. For the fine linen represents the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: Those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb are fortunate!” He also said to me, “These words of God are true.” Then I fell at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you and your brothers who have the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, because the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

The Lord’s Supper

Communion!

((Go to the Communion Table)) ((Uncover the elements))

Say...:

Brothers and sisters in Christ,

the Communion Table is the table of our Lord Jesus.

I therefore invite those who love the Lord Jesus Christ

and are members in good standing of this or another congregation

to join in this celebration of the Lord's Supper.

This invitation is however for those alone who put their complete trust

in the Lord alone, Father Son and Holy Spirit -

in true faith alone - lest they eat and drink a judgement on themselves!

But for those who believe in the saving act of Jesus,

hear the gracious words of the Lord Jesus ... as we gather around the table:

(Matthew 11:28,29): Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Beloved in the Lord,

listen to the words of the institution of the Holy Supper of our Lord Jesus Christ,

as they are recorded by the Apostle Paul.

He writes... "I received from the Lord what I passed on to you:

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,

and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner

will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

For anyone who eats and drinks without recognising the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement on himself. (1 Corinthians 11: 23-29) - Amen!

Let's pray: "what the lord has done, is doing and will do .... Amen.

B&S, On the night Jesus was betrayed, he took bread (take bread

and when he had given thanks, he broke it (Break!) and said:

THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH IS FOR YOU.

Jesus said: "Take and eat: this is my body. Do this in remembrance of me."

((Hand out to elders, wait for bread to return)……

Sit/stand and say: The body of Christ, broken for you and for me!

In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying:

THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD;

DO THIS WHENEVER YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.

((Hand over to elders - ))

At the return of the Cup)) The blood of Christ, poured out for you and for me..."

((Drink - Cup is replaced on table...)//////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Read Dt. 30: 1-5

Deuteronomy 30:1–5 NIV

When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the LORD your God disperses you among the nations, and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where he scattered you. Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. He will bring you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors.

B&S: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Assurance of Pardon: Isaiah 54: 7-10

Isaiah 54:7–10 NIV

“For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer. “To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Now hear this, and remember God; remember forever what He has done:

His son the Christ, has died;

Christ has risen;

Christ will come again. - Amen!