YOU PREPARE A TABLE

I'm willing to bet that many of you think you know what Psalm 23:5 means. It reads, "thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies." For years I thought this meant a literal table and I saw myself seated at this table and feasting in the presence of my OPPs! Partaking of all that they had denied me while they watched! Yes, "eating" of every good thing that life and God had to offer, in their faces! But further study revealed a deeper, more meaningful truth! And how low our level of thinking can be as it pertains to spiritual matters.

In thinking about this verse, it's good to know that during warmer months shepherds lead their sheep to the "summer ranges" which are high mountain country. These are known as "alplands" or tablelands, which are highly sought after by sheepmen. In some of the finest sheep country in the world, the high plateaus of the sheep ranges are also referred to as mesas—the Spanish word for tables. In fact, the use of this word is not uncommon in referring to high, flat-topped plateaus. So, it is safe to say that what David referred to as a table was actually the entire high "summer range". Though these mesas may be remote and hard to reach, the energetic and aggressive sheep owner will take the time and trouble to ready them for the arrival of his flocks.

Early in the season, even before all the snow has been melted by spring sunshine, he will go AHEAD and make preliminary survey trips into this rough, wild country. He will look it over carefully, always keeping in mind its best use for his flock during the coming season. Then just before the sheep arrive, he will make another trip or two to prepare the tableland for them. He takes along a supply of salt and minerals to be distributed over the range at strategic spots for the benefit of the sheep during the summer. The shepherd will also decide ahead of time where his camps will be located so the sheep have the best bed grounds. Another task the shepherd takes on is to survey and keep an eye out for predators. He will look for signs of wolves, coyotes, cougars and other threats to his flock.

All of these things were in David’s mind when he wrote this Psalm. As a shepherd, he understood! The parallel to the Christian life is clear. Our Good Shepherd is going ahead of us in every situation, anticipating what danger we may encounter, and making intercession for us that we might not succumb to it. Only the alertness of the shepherd who tends his flock on the tableland (high place) in full view of possible enemies can prevent them from falling prey to attack. It is only His preparation for such events that will save the sheep (us) from being literally slaughtered and panicked by predators. And again, the picture here, is of our Savior who knows every wile, every trick, every treachery of Satan and his minions. He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Not that they're watching us "eat" (and maybe they are!) but more importantly HE is making sure that we can feast without threat of attack or injury!

~Dania Roberts