The Table of the LORD

Psalm 23 NKJV

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, 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 runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Hunger

God created us with hunger.

The children of Israel hungered in the wilderness. God provided them bread from heaven (Manna).

Jesus is the Bread of Life.

John 6:51 NKJV

I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Food

God provided food for Adam and Eve in the garden.

God has instructed us what to eat and what not to eat.

Our diet is important to God!

Belly

God created us with a belly and digestive tract to process food.

God cursed the Serpent to go on his belly and eat dust (Genesis 3:14).

The serpent was sentenced to eat from this worldly realm rather than God’s realm.

Tables

1 Corinthians 10:14–22 NKJV

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. Observe Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Tables speak of altars.

Altars involve who or what we worship.

Two tables mentioned here.

The Table of the LORD.

The Table of demons.

The Table we choose will determine the diet we consume.

You are what you eat.

What are you eating?

What table are you eating from?

The Table of Demons

The table of demons involves fellowship with another god, which are not gods but demons.

Philippians 3:18–19 NKJV

For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

The table of demons contains a destructive and poisoned spiritual diet. It involves fellowship with demons.

The Table of the LORD

Psalm 23:5 NKJV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

God has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies.

God has prepared for us the milk of the Word and the meat of the Word.

God has given us Jesus as the Bread of Life.

God has given us Jesus as the Water of Life.

Jesus is the Lord’s sacrifice for our redemption.

The Cup is the communion of the blood of Christ.

The Bread is the communion of the body of Christ.

Psalm 34:8 NKJV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

What Table are You Eating From?

We cannot partake of the Lord’s table and the table of demons.

2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 NKJV

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The enemy invites us to feast at his table so that he may feast on us.

It is like a pack of wolves inviting sheep over for dinner.

The serpent was cursed to eat the dust of the earth (Genesis 3:14).

Jonah ended up in the belly of a great fish.

The devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

Response to the Word

Are you hungry?

What kind of diet are you feeding on?

What table are you feeding from?

You are what you eat.