The shepherd got you through the dark. Now what? (Psalm 23, Part 4)

By Dean Collins

The shepherd got you through the deep dark, and you are still here.

Trusting your shepherd’s guidance and knowing he had his rod and staff with him, you managed to get through that very dark and narrow path. And finally, you saw some light at the end of the tunnel. What a relief! God came through again today for you just as he has done on other tough days when things looked black, and you weren’t sure you would make it.

The fog has lifted a bit, but you’re tired. Safe, yes, but tired. And the shepherd changes roles. He now will be your host. Normally you would fix yourself something to eat, but, honestly, you just feel done. Sitting there catching your breath, you realize you’re in for a treat. A table is being set, and you didn’t have to lift a finger. And this is no ordinary spread or a to-go meal. It’s a lavish feast complete with wine glasses.

Time together

It’s a table for two. The host has prepared it and he wants the two of you to enjoy some time together. You feel grateful for the food, the wine, and the company, but the location suddenly feels like a challenge. If you had been the host, you would have picked a better spot. Maybe something more out of the way. Right there, watching the whole experience, are your enemies. Your host doesn’t seem bothered by them. Honestly our host is never flustered when enemies are around.

David knew the tension of enjoying God’s provision even when he was being watched. The psalmist, the shepherd of Israel, was used to being pursued. He fought off wildlife attacks as a shepherd, managed to live through Saul’s hostile pursuits, and maybe here was remembering when his son Absalom was after him and very close by. And then Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai showed up in the wilderness and set an abundant table and told David to eat. Even as Absalom was right there.

Nourishment and healing

David knew what we continue to discover. God will provide, even right in front of our adversaries. And we don’t have to worry, because he not only provides for us, he also will never abandon us. He not only provides nourishment extravagantly, he will tend to our scrapes and wounds. He pours healing and gently rubs our head with it, just as he did for David and for all the saints of old. His abundance causes our glass to overflow. Our host will make sure we have more than enough.

Psalm 78 reminds us of the exodus experience. God’s chosen people tested God and questioned his ability to provide a table of abundance in the middle of nowhere, yet God did exactly that again and again. And even though there were always plenty of enemies inside and outside the camp, God came through.

Peter learned that our Good Shepherd will always come through. He knew the pains of failure yet experienced the feast and the forgiveness on the seashore days after the resurrection. He knew the enemy was always lurking and had felt the sting of giving in to his temptations. But as he aged, Peter had learned to walk more and more in the Spirit and less in the flesh.

Provision and protection

As he closes 1 Peter, he warns us that our adversary is lurking like a lion ready to pounce. If that’s true, and we know it is, then we also know that every provision of God will always be in the presence of our enemy. Yet we must eat. We must enjoy our host’s kindness. And not fear, because just as he has made lavish provision, he has also offered protection from the enemy.

In fact, Paul said no temptation from the enemy is so great that by God’s power and presence we cannot conquer. Even death has no permanent sting. There is victory even there.

A table of abundance is waiting still today. Our host has his healing oil to tend to the wounds of yesterday. Take time to sit with him. Let our Father do the work today and enjoy his abundance. The enemy cannot touch you when you are at the table of the Lord. And the good news we will discuss tomorrow is that when we get up from the table, he goes with us then, too.

Psalm 23:5

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (ESV).
”You spread a table before me in front of my adversaries. You’ve enriched my head with oil; my cup fills me up (The First Testament).

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭78:18-20‬; 2 Samuel‬ ‭17:27-29‬; ‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:46‬; 1 Peter‬ ‭5:8‬; 1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:13‬ , ESV‬‬

This is the fourth of five devotions based on Psalm 23 , appearing here now on Saturdays .
Some readers will remember today’s devotion, which was first posted in March of 2021.

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