23 You prepare a table before me

Title: YOU PREPARE A TABLE BEFORE ME

Text:

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.

Intro: 1. A shepherd looks at the 23rd Psalm- Phillip Keller who grew up as a shepherd in East Africa

2. The 23rd Psalm is a year in the life of a shepherd

3. A year in the life of the shepherd

4. Led them through the lowlands, up the valley paths covered in shadows on their way to the highlands or the table lands

5. Higher group- Lord life me up and let me stand, by faith on heaven’s table land, a higher plain than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground

I. YOU PREPARE

A. Preparing the tableland

1. Some of the finest sheep country in the world is in the western US and southern Europe

a. These best fields are often the most difficult to get to

2. These high plateaus of sheep ranges are referred to as mesa's

a. Mesa is the Spanish word for table

b. The African word for table is also Mesa

c. Probably this had its origin with the first Portuguese explorers to explore East Africa

d. The classic example is table mountain near Cape Town (picture)

3. Shepherds will take several trips to the table land before the sheep to prepare it for their arrival

a. They will strategically place supplies of salt and minerals on the range

b. They will also explore the Mesa to make sure there are no poisonous bushes

c. They will clear the watering holes of debris

d. Preparing the table land is tedious tiring work

B. Jesus has prepared the way for us

1. He has been there ahead of us coping with every situation that could harm us

a. Jesus is the author (pioneer, predecessor) and perfecter of our faith

b. Since he himself has gone through suffering and temptation, he is able to help us when we are being tempted

c. He knows the way to the tableland

a. That’s why we are following Jesus

2. He has prepared the way

a. Prepare means to arrange, set in order, furnish, or ordain

b. God’s kind of preparation is very intentional, very planned, very orderly, Everything is under His control

c. Story of Ruth when Boaz told the workers to drop handfuls on purpose-

d. He led Israel through the wilderness but provided along the way

e. God has ordained all the situations and circumstances of your life to get you to the tableland

f. His goal is to get us to higher ground

II. A TABLE BEFORE ME

A. What is the table?

1. The root word for table means “shoot forth, sow, spread, stretch out”

a. We see a thanksgiving table and say, “What a spread”

2. A place we sow into our family so they can go forth and spread out

a. 60 years ago, the average dinnertime was ninety minutes; today it is less than 12 minutes

b. The #1 predictor of future academic success for elementary-age children? “Frequent family dinners.”

c. Most of Jesus’ parables were about food

d. Food was so sacred to Jesus He made it a sacrament- The Lord’s Supper or Communion

e. A time to invest in the next generation

3. It’s a reward

a. Just like dinner at the end of a long work day

b. There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return. I tell you, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat

c. Blessed are those invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb

d. Come and dine- He had prepared breakfast for them

e. The first commandment—is “Eat freely” () The last command is “Drink freely” ()

B. It’s for me

1. Not talking about peace with our enemies because I am the only one at the table

2. A meal specifically designed for me

a. We had to order special pizza’s because we had kids in youth with food allergies

b. Cassie doesn’t eat meat so we buy veggie burgers and make vegetables

3. God knows you that intimately

4. Sure God loves everybody, but He also loves you

III. IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

A. Peace

1. Dogs eat very carefully in front of another dog

a. All animals want what the other animal has (dog sitting)

2. Most people can’t eat during a crisis. They lose their appetite

3. God wants you to be at ease, to sit down and dine right in the midst of all your distress and problems, fears and worries

4. A classic example of this is when Jesus warned Peter that Satan desire to sift him like wheat

a. Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers

b. The good shepherd has gone ahead of us and trapped and killed the predators

5. Predators will always look for the sheep that are out on the edges

6. The only job sheep have is to stay close to the shepherd

B. Vindication

1. I want your enemies to watch you eat in peace

2. The rich man in hell lifted up his eyes and saw Lazarus in heaven

3. - Haman having to give honor to Mordecai

4. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed

5. This is about us going through temptation & trials and the world watching us come through with victory and character

6. This is about watching God turn what was meant for evil into something good

a. Divorce, addiction, past abuse

7. No matter what the enemy brings against me- I’M GOING UP ON TOP

Cncl: 1. Nothing surprises God

2. Jim Baker stuff, Supreme Court rulings

3. Our job is to stay close to the shepherd

4. God will vindicate us, He will proves us right

Altr: 1. Salvation

2. Stay close to the shepherd, keep your eyes on Him, He will vindicate you