IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

 

In 1933 the middle of the great depression, a young Irish man named J. Edwin Orr left a good paying job and with no fixed source of income, he trusted that God would provide for him. He planned to travel around Great Britain with the message of prayer, salvation and revival. He left Belfast with 2 shillings and 8 pence. He had a bicycle, clothes and a Bible. He spent the next year traveling to every country in Great Britain. He organized 300 prayer groups dedicated to pray for revival.

He wrote a book about it all and finally convinced a publisher to take it. The first book titled “Can God..?” was based on Psalm 78:19 and published in 1934. It sold hundreds of thousands of copies and was a tremendous inspiration to Christians in that day. Orr’s book and life were a remarkable demonstration of the fact that God can prepare a table in the wilderness.

In Psalm 23:1-4 David described his relationship to God using the imagery of the shepherd and his sheep. But from verse 5 he describes this same relationship using the imagery of a hospitable host. After talking about walking through the valley of the shadows of death (Psalm 23:4), David says “you prepare a table before me” (Psalm 23:5). He depicted God setting a table before him in the dark valleys of life and envisioned another set table after death.

In ancient Israel hospitality was a custom necessitated by the harsh desert conditions and the nomadic lifestyle led by the Israelites. Travelers found refuge in homes since there were no hotels then. God commanded that strangers should be treated as natives for the period they were hosted (Lev. 19:33-34). A guest was assured of shelter, food, protection and fellowship. This is what Abraham, Lot and Laban provided (Gen.18:1-7, 19:1-8, 24:15-32).

As David walks through life’s wilderness and dark valleys, he is hosted by God. And one day when he dies, he will take a permanent residence in God’s house. David uses three things to describe how God his host provides for him. He uses table, oil and cup. God prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. He anoints his head with oil and his cup runs over. How does God prepare a table?

On their way to the Promised Land the Israelites complained, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?” (Ps. 78:19). This doubt annoyed God; nevertheless he indeed prepared a table for the over 2 million people in the vast desert, for forty years. He never left them the entire period; He gave them everything that they needed to survive (Deut 2:7). 

He guided them day and night (Exod. 13:21). He provided both food and water (Exod. 15:25; 16:12-15). He protected them from dangers (Deut. 8:15). He ensured that their clothes and sandals did not wear out and their feet did not swell (Deut. 29:5; Neh. 9:20-21). He gave them laws (Exod. 20, Lev. 19) to keep their bodies and relationships healthy.

In Psalm 23:5 David imagines himself sitting at a table in God’s presence, feasting and being refreshed. David is abundantly given the finest provisions in the house. He does not eat a snack standing, he enjoys a feast, sitting on a table well prepared by the Lord himself. Most significantly, David is not a guest for a few days he has been granted a perpetual place at the Lords table; he uses present tense “you prepare”.

In Psalm 139 David wrote that his host is intimately involved with every area of his life (v.1). “You know when I sit and when I rise, you perceive my thought from afar (v. 2.) You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways (v.3). Before a word is on my tongue, you know it completely (v.4). You hem me in behind and before and you lay your hand upon me (v.5). You know me inside out; you are with me every time and everywhere (7-18).

The abundance of a guests provisions depended on how rich and generous the host was.  The Lord satisfies David’s needs in many different ways. In Psalm 103:2-5 he said “Praise the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits –who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s”.

Solomon wrote “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?” (Ec. 2:24-25). This is the best that a person can hope for in this life and only the Lord can provide true satisfaction! In Psalm 63:3-5 David says “you God... I thirst for you; my whole being longs for you in a dry and parched land ... My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods”.

David imagines himself sitting at the Lords table while his enemies gather all around. His life was an unrelenting battle. In his early years his father Jesse did not think of him, when he was asked by Prophet Samuel to summon his sons (1 Sam. 16:1-13). His brothers despised him (1 Sam.17:28). Later he lived as a fugitive, hunted by King Saul (1 Sam. 23-24) and his son Absalom (2 Sam.15:13-23). As king he fought many battles (1 Chronicles 18). Possibly he reflected on all these when as an old man, he wrote Psalm 23.

God did prepare a table for David in the presence of these enemies. The phrase “the Lord was with him” could sail as a banner over David’s life.  As a boy he killed Goliath, who had terrified Saul and his great soldiers for 40 days. David gave Israel victory as his brothers watched (1 Sam 17:24, 40-54). God rejected David’s brothers and chose David to be king; Samuel anointed him in their presence (1 Sam 16:3-13).

King Saul hated David so much but his own son Jonathan loved and protected David from his father (1 Sam 18:1, 20:12-36); David loved him too (2 Sam. 1:26). Saul deceitfully promised to give David his first born daughter Merab as a wife. He gave her to another man instead. But that did not stop God from making David Saul’s son-in-law, greatly elevating his status in Israel.

David married Michael and immediately rose to being in the first family, the most privileged people in Israel (1 Sam 18:17-29). David was successful in whatever battle king Saul sent him. This made him a hero; King Saul felt insecure and planned to kill him (I Sam.18:7-14). However, while king Saul and Jonathan died in the battle field (1 Sam. 31:8-13), David was an invincible military commander. He survived all the battles and died an old man at home (1 Kings 2: 1-10).

The last thing we think about in a crisis is eating.  We have no appetite. The enemy can be physical: loss of property, human enemies, broken homes.  The enemy can be feelings: pain, fear, anger, disappointment.  David faced all these enemies, but because he was conscious that God was with him, he took everything in strides. When enemy death took his baby after he had fasted and pleaded with God for days, David took a shower and asked for food (2Sam 12:15-23).

David envisioned a table set for him at end of the valley of shadow of death. Think of getting home after a tiring day and finding a table set for you. Isaiah prophesied “on this mountain the Lord almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all people, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the best of wines...He will swallow death forever. In that day they will say, we trusted in him and he has saved us. This is the Lord ...let us rejoice in his salvation” (Isa. 25:6-9). The saints are celebrating after seeing their savior’s face for the first time.

With all enemies including death the final enemy past, the saints sit on a table as a family to enjoy a wonderful feast. They have come from all directions and taken their place at the feast in the Kingdom of God (Luke 13:29) ; the marriage supper of the lamb (Rev. 19:9). Jesus said “make every effort to enter...because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the door is closed you will stand outside knocking and pleading but the door will not be opened” (Luke 13: 24-25).