XV. THOU PREPAREST A TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES
A. Usually when a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all it is a quick bite and then back to the battle. (Robert McKenzie)
1. M.R.E. = carry them with you ready to eat while on the run.
2. Usually cold and not too tasty.
B. The word "prepare" means to set up, to set in a row, to set in order.
1. Repeatedly. The word “preparest” is continuous action. (Elmer Towns)
2. Continuously. The Lord prepares food more than once.
3. Daily. The Lord prepares food daily because we get hungry daily.
Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread.”
C. David indicates the rich provision which the Lord makes for His children. He feeds them on heavenly dainties as they travel through this world. They have sources of joy that the world does not have. They feed on the Living Bread, and drink the Living Water, and their hearts are satisfied. (A Dictionary Of Bible Types)
D. "Thou preparest a table," just like any ordinary peaceful occasion. (Robert McKenzie)
1. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance.
2. The enemy is at the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the believer sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace.
3. David reminds us here of the peace which God gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances!
4. Spiritually the table speaks of fellowship and communion... that is not broken due to circumstances, no matter how difficult.
Thou preparest a table The image is now changed, though expressing the general idea which is indicated in the first verse of the psalm, “I shall not want.” The evidence or proof of this in the previous verses is, that God was a shepherd, and would provide for him as a shepherd does for his flock; the evidence here is that God had provided a table, or a feast, for him in the very presence of his enemies, and had filled his cup with joy. The word “table” here is synonymous with “feast;” and the meaning is, “thou providest for my wants.” There “may” be an allusion here to some particular period of the life of the psalmist, when he was in want, and when he perhaps felt an apprehension that he would perish, and when God had unexpectedly provided for his wants; but it is impossible now to determine to what occasion he thus refers. There were numerous occasions in the life of David which would be well represented by this language, “as if” God had provided a meal for him in the very “presence” of his foes, and in SPITE of them. (Barnes’ Notes)
E. WHEN THE TABLE IS SPREAD (Elmer Towns)
1. You have just come back from straying.
2. You have just come from a dark valley.
3. You have just escaped death shadows.
F. Before me For me. It is spread in my presence, and FOR me. (Barnes’ Notes)
G. In The Presence Of Mine Enemies (Elmer Towns)
1. For God. To show your enemies God’s care and provision.
2. For you. To celebrate your deliverance, i.e., V.J. DAY.
3. For your enemies. To demonstrate God’s power.
4. For your peace. They can see you but cannot touch you.
5. For your testimonies. Your table tells others they can have one.
6. The word enemies is plural, remember you have more than one.
In the presence of mine enemies That is, in spite of them, or so that they could not prevent it. They were compelled to look on and see how God provided for him. It was manifest that this was from God; it was a proof of the divine favor; it furnished an assurance that he who had done this would never leave him to want. The friends of God are made to triumph in the very presence of their foes. Their enemies are compelled to see how He interposes in their behalf, how He provides for them, and how He defends them. Their final triumph in the day of judgment will be in the very
presence of all their assembled enemies, for in their very presence He will pronounce the sentence which will make their eternal happiness sure, (Barnes’ Notes)
That God had prepared a table before him (David) in the very presence of his enemies, or that he had abundantly led for him in their very sight, when they were endeavoring to destroy him — thus giving him the assurance that God never would leave him, (Barnes’ Notes)
XVI. THOU ANOINTEST MY HEAD WITH OIL
A. Anoint --> This act was a picture of that which happens to a believer who gives himself wholly and without reserve to the service of the Lord. The oil represents the Holy Spirit; the priest who applies it represents either the Father or the Lord Jesus. The believer who yields himself to God a living and willing sacrifice becomes Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, and has the unction of the Spirit upon him.
(A Dictionary Of Bible Types)
B. The anointing has a two-fold meaning: (Elmer Towns)
1. To honor. A respected guest was given the best seat and honored with oil.
2. To heal. Oil was medicine for those who got wounds in the valley.
C. Every believer is a priest. (Robert McKenzie)
I Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;”
Revelation 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
D. As priests we have: (Robert McKenzie)
1. Right to confess our sins to God.
2. Right to come boldly to the throne of grace (middle wall of partition gone.).
3. Right to offer sacrifices.
XVII. SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE
A. The Pronoun “My” (Elmer Towns)
1. Personal. Not “the” cup runs over.
2. Favorite. Not “a” cup runs over.
3. Parent’s religion. Not the “parent’s cup” runs over.
4. Pastor’s religion. Not the “pastor’s cup” runs over.
5. Sunday religion. Not the “Sunday cup” runs over.
B. My Cup --> By this figure David described the fullness of joy and peace which was his portion because of the Lord's goodness to him. (A Dictionary Of Bible Types)
C. Our cup that overflows speaks of the abundant blessings of our Lord.
(Robert McKenzie)
1. As a guest in a home is honored by having his cup kept full.
2. God blesses us abundantly and overflows our cup!
D. Now consider this, to have our cups full means that we have enough.
(Robert McKenzie)
1. Perhaps we may be satisfied with just enough.
2. But God has chosen to give us more!
John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
3. To have our cups running over, means that we are so blessed that we cannot contain the blessings.
E. David reminds us that God is a God of preparation. He has prepared a place of communion and fellowship for us in the midst of the battle. He has prepared the anointing for us that we might fulfill our purpose in serving Him. He has prepared more than we will ever be able to use. (Robert McKenzie)
XVIII. SURELY GOODNESS AND MERCY SHALL FOLLOW ME
ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE
A. Goodness and mercy are attributes of God. (Robert McKenzie)
1. Goodness - meets our needs / Mercy - forgives our faults
2. Goodness - cares for the temporal / Mercy - cares for the spiritual
3. Goodness -- bounty of God / Mercy - love of God
4. Goodness -- leads to repentance / Mercy - leads to regeneration.
5. Goodness - convicts us of sin / Mercy - offers regeneration.
6. Goodness - caused the prodigal to come back home / Mercy - ran to meet
the son.
7. Goodness - is God’s hand / Mercy - is God’s heart.
B. Surely = without a doubt. (Robert McKenzie)
1. It is an exclamation of confidence.
2. Not self-confidence, but Christ confidence.
C. "All the days." (Robert McKenzie)
1. Spring days and summer days.
2. Autumn days and winter days.
3. Sundays and fun days.
4. Week days and weak days.
5. Sunshine days and shadow days.
6. Peace and peril days.
7. Rest and rush days.
Past experience teaches believers to trust that the goodness and mercy of God will follow them
XIX. AND I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOR EVER
A. "Dwell" means to abide, remain, settle, continue. (Robert McKenzie)
1. "Here we have no abiding place."
2. When we come to the end of all the days of our lives, then what?
3. "House of the Lord forever."
B. "House." = dwelling place. (Robert McKenzie)
1. This is a house, not a tent.
2. This is a home, not a hotel.
3. A home for the people of God; a home in the presence of God.
C. "Forever". For all eternity. (Robert McKenzie)
Eternal life has no ending.
