Sharpened Together - Week 10

Key Scripture: 
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Psalm 23:5

Who doesn’t love a good feast? Whether it be a buffet breakfast, a 3-Piece Feed from the old reliable dirty bird; or one of Kenny’s delicious Thai recipes that gets you salivating more than a dog with a bone! I know I do!

But if we’re honest, most of us blokes are just as happy with a cheap parmi (yes, I said that correctly!) from the pub. Nothing too fancy.

But Psalm 23 paints a different picture.

David describes God as a host, preparing a table, setting a feast, inviting him to sit. Not reheatable meals or leftovers. A full table. Abundant. Intentional. Personal.

And here’s the kicker - it’s in the presence of his enemies!

This isn’t a peaceful, quiet dinner. It’s a table set right in the middle of tension, pressure and opposition.

And yet… David sits.

When we are invited to someone’s house for dinner, we cannot open the host’s refrigerator and grab whatever we want to eat. We depend on the host to place dinner on the table for us. We wait to be offered food and drink.

And it got me thinking, the statement, “You prepare a table before me,” highlights David’s dependence on God! But sometimes we feed ourselves with things that aren’t from the table that was prepared for us because we get distracted by snacking on work, anxieties, stress, our own egos, or habits we know aren’t good for us. Or sometimes, we simply don’t sit at the table with Him in the first place because we don’t give Him the time.

Meanwhile, the table is still set.
The seat is still there.
The one who booked the table.
Prepared the meal.
Sat down to dine with you.
And the reservation cost Him everything.

David said to the Lord, “You anoint my head with oil” because he regarded himself as the Lord’s special guest. We too need to come back to the table that we’ve been invited to, and sit. We’ve been invited to dine now and forever at the Lord’s table and to receive His favourable anointing.

“You anoint my head with oil” speaks of the Lord’s ministry to refresh David’s heart, particularly in light of the immediate threat of enemies. David imagines himself sitting at the Lord’s banquet table while his rivals gather all around.

But he’s not focused on them: he is locked in, gazing into the eyes of the King. Being in God’s presence rejuvenated David, giving him the strength to face all the challenges and pressures of life. His enemies could snarl and roar all they wanted, but in the shelter of God’s presence, David would feast and be refreshed.

So I ask you these questions:
- What is the enemy doing to pull you away from the table right now?
- What needs to shift so you can sit with God again?
- Who can you talk to that will pray with you about silencing your enemies?

I’ll leave you with this quote. Louie Giglio has an incredible book that shares the same title as this that I read last year, and I want to encourage you with this today. Are you ready?

"Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table!"