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A Table Before Me


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

          In the introduction to Life Without Lack, Dallas Willard says the following about this passage:
            Since I love my enemies, I would not feast upon a delicious meal in their presence and let them stand there hungry. The abundance of God’s provision and safety in my life is so great, I would invite them to enjoy what God has prepared for me.[1]
           I have some vague notions about my visualization of this verse as I grew up. One was what you might call a “Nya, Nya, God likes me and He doesn’t like you” idea. God’s preparation of a table in the presence of my enemies meant that He would grant me victory because I was a good girl. The table represented my victory (even if it was given to me.)
            Another was the “protected by the pillar of fire and cloud” idea. God was protecting me. He gave me a table at which I could sit in the presence of my enemies because God would keep my enemies from me, and I could, therefore, feast in peace. The table represented safety.
             I’m not saying those views are entirely wrong, but Professor Willard adds a couple possibilities here. The table may also be a test. There are enemies out there. How are we going to treat them?
           There are a couple of Biblical examples. After years of being tormented by Saul, David was made king. The standard operating procedure in that time was for the new king to kill or enslave every member of the previous king. David asked his officials to track down any remaining members of Saul’s family. The one they found was not only a member of Saul’s household but physically disabled. Another standard operating procedure of the time was that the disabled were not permitted in the king’s presence, but this disabled young man ate at the king’s table on a daily basis.
         There’s another table, at which Jesus tells His disciples that one of them would betray Him. Someone at His table was an enemy who would help bring about His death. He warns them that they will all flee, and when Peter says, “I won’t!” Jesus tells him that he’ll deny Jesus three times before the cock crows. He was surrounded by those who, if they were His enemies, they were very human, and therefore weak friends. As the saying goes, with friends like those, who needs enemies? Paul later tells us that while we were yet enemies, He died for us.
           I don’t think that this means God doesn’t give us victory over our enemies or protection from them. But I see in the verse not only those things but also a test. He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. How will we respond?

[1]Willard, Dallas. Life Without Lack (p. xix). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.


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