“Go in Peace: Protection for the Way”
Ps. 23:5
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” The psychoanalyst Victor Frankl and his friends were imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. It was winter. They had been marched off to work in the morning, spent the day at hard labor, been given only a little thin soup to eat, and then staggered back to camp in the late afternoon. Many were already sick; most of them had lost loved ones; everything they owned had been taken away from them. As they were lying around on their bunks one of the group came running inside and told them to come outside quickly. They dragged themselves outside and were immediately confronted with a majestic sunset. They gray, metallic skies had broken open, and a glorious splash of color had exploded across the horizon, and reflected in the pools of water around the concrete yard. They stood in awe, overwhelmed by the miracle of the sunset, transformed by this message from God. Their hearts were lifted and their souls refreshed. God’s sovereign hand had smashed through the walls of hatred and wrong. God had spread a table before them in the presence of their enemies. What an illustration of David’s theme: BECAUSE OF GOD’S PROTECTION WE HAVE HOPE.
With verse 5 David’s images begin to be multi-sided. More than one meaning lies behind them – all with this same theme. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Let’s look, first, at DAVID’S PICTURES OF PROTECTION. There are three pictures. The first and primary one is of the Shepherd. In the summer the good shepherd would lead his sheep to the high mountain plateaus for grazing. These high plateaus were called TABLELANDS. The Shepherd had already made several trips there to prepare the land. According to Phillip Keller the shepherd would distribute salt and minerals in strategic places, would determine the best place for the camps to be set up, would check for good, clean watering places and would check out and prepare the soil while clearing it of poisonous weeds. These tablelands were usually high and isolated enough that enemy animals could only overlook the flock from a distance; so the sheep were in a protected place. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
A second picture switches the imagery. It Points to A KING AND HIS BANQUET. During David’s day it was common practice following a battle for the victorious king to prepare and host a victory banquet. Often the vanquished army would be paraded in front of the festive crowd as part of the celebration. The people were protected by the successes and victories of the king. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
The third of David’s pictures is that of PROTECTIVE HOSPITALITY. The Shepherd often served as a gracious host in his tent. His tent was considered a sanctuary, a place of refuge, where every guest – even those not necessarily worthy – was considered a guest of God. Eastern hospitality guarantees the security of the guest. As J. H. Jowett wrote, “All the hallowed sanctions of hospitality gather around him for his defense. He is taken into the tent, food is placed before him, while his elevated pursuers stand frowningly at the door.” “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
As we analyze the imagery THE ONE CERTAINTY IS THAT GOD ALWAYS SETS A TABLE. The greatest blessing of God comes not in not granting success, giving health, guaranteeing wealth or popularity, but in graciously providing for and protecting us, even in the face of the enemy. Do you know the legend of the Cherokee Indian youth’s rite of Passage? His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own. The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blows the grass and earth, and shakes his stump, but he sits stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man! Finally, after a horrific night the sun appears and he removes his blindfold. It was then that he discovers his father sitting on the stump next to him. He has been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.
God graciously provides for and protects us, even in the face of the enemy. In doing so He enables us to enjoy God no matter what! Isn’t it a glorious image? The enemy primed for attack - yet nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance as God prepares a table and his people calmly, causally eat. We can enjoy God no matter what. In the face of any enemy, God always sets the table.
David’s pictures are reinforced over and over again throughout the Bible. There are many BIBLICAL PICTURES OF PROTECTION. Consider EXODUS14:19-22. Israel was on her way to the Promised Land. But the Red Sea blocked the path ahead of them and the Egyptian army was in hot pursuit from the rear. Moses wrote, “Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.” And we know the rest of the story – the Egyptian army drowned as they tried to cross the same path through the sea. God prepared a table before them in the presence of their enemies.
Remember Joseph? He was sold by his brothers into slavery. His brothers told their father Joseph was dead. Years later, Joseph had risen to be the Pharaoh’s right hand man. His family eventually came to him, not knowing it was him, to ask for food during a great famine. GENESIS 45:4-8: “Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.” God prepared a table before him in the presence of his enemies.
The apostle Paul knew this protection as well. As a prisoner he was placed on a ship to sail to Rome. A fierce storm arose. In ACTS 27:20-26 we read: “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ’Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." God prepared a table before them in the presence of their enemies.
GOD IS STILL IN THE TABLE SETTING BUSINESS. Consider Cornelia, a woman imprisoned in a work camp in Romania during the hard years of Communist occupation. One night, being too tired to undress, she fell exhausted on her bed and immediately went to sleep. She began to dream of a beautiful field full of flowers. There was a soft humming sound made by the bees. And there were clouds of butterflies, all glittering with color, coming toward her. Above all, she smelled the sweet fragrance of lily of the valley, her favorite flower. Then a woman with gentle eyes came toward her, gently looking into her heart. She was carrying a bouquet of lily of the valley, and placed it in Cornelia’s hands. At that moment Cornelia heard a man’s strong, clear voice speaking words from Song of Solomon: “As the lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters.” Then she awoke and realized she was still in the camp and that the guards were still in the hall outside her door. But she said that when those guards banged on her bedrails at five in the morning she went to work in the quarries while dancing in her soul. The fragrance of flowers was still in her nostrils, the sight of the field and the woman was still in her mind. She knew God was with her. After all, He had prepared a table for her in the midst of her enemies.
Yet there’s more. The Bible holds before us OUR PICTURES OF PROTECTION. In the New Testament the banquet table is a sign of salvation. Jesus, in Matthew 26:29, promises to eat and drink with His disciples in the kingdom of God. To help them remember He LEAVES THEM WITH A BANQUET. (Mark14:12-15): “On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?" So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ’The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there." Jesus was preparing a table for them in the presence of their enemies.
WE CELEBRATE THIS BANQUET AS THE LORD’S SUPPER. On the table are the bread – the symbol of his broken body – and the cup – the symbol of his shed blood. They are visible reminders of the salvation Jesus purchased for us. There is a table of grace prepared for us. When we think of who we really are, when we admit our sin, it is only with awe that we ever come to the Table. We have enemies to be sure, but they have not prevailed – and they will not prevail. Jesus has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies. Through His death on the cross He has overcome every hazard to our souls. He has paid the price for our sin. As Paul wrote (Rom. 8:1 NLT), “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus...” WE HAVE UNCONDITIONAL FORGIVENESS.
Yet there’s still one more picture for us. Jesus promises ONE MORE BANQUET. He told a parable about being ready for His return. He said (Lk. 12:35-37 NLT): “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!” We see the picture of this banquet in Revelation 19:6-9 (CEV): “Then I heard what seemed to be a large crowd that sounded like a roaring flood and loud thunder all mixed together. They were saying, "Praise the Lord! Our Lord God All-Powerful now rules as king. So we will be glad and happy and give him praise. The wedding day of the Lamb is here, and his bride is ready. She will be given a wedding dress made of pure and shining linen. This linen stands for the good things God’s people have done." Then the angel told me, "Put this in writing. God will bless everyone who is invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." WE HAVE HOPE. THE KING OF KINGS WILL PUT ON HIS APRON AND SERVE US THE FEAST HE HAS PREPARED! It was this hope that filled the early Christians with joy and peace. When they read these words of Revelation they were strengthened and encouraged to withstand the mighty persecution of Rome. As someone said, they knew how to outlive their enemies and how to out-die their enemies. They were not afraid to live out their faith. Their confession of faith was simply, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
Will and John were firefighters called in to do battle with the Twin Towers on that terrible day we call 9-11. They were in one of the towers when it collapsed. After being buried alive under debris all day and into the night, Will had a vision. He saw a bright light and a robed man walking toward him. He woke up and told John (his boss who is buried with him) what he’d seen. "The most amazing thing just happened. I saw Jesus. And you know what? He had a bottle of water (chuckles). And I could have drunk it, you know? But I didn’t drink it. He’s telling us something, Sarge. He’s telling us to come home. Don’t sleep on me, John." John: "No. The pain’s keeping me alive. Keep talking." A table prepared in the presence of the enemy.
Because of God’s protection, our future is bright with hope. The Lord is my Shepherd…even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me… “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” One day the dark valleys will be behind us and we will graze in the lush pastures of heaven, and feast at the table of our Lord. It’s guaranteed by the cross of our Lord Jesus. Whatever the enemies you are fighting, you are secure. Even now you can join in the banquet and feast on Jesus’ grace. Always remember your hope: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want…You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
