At the Table | Preparing a Feast

5 You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over!

Psalm 23:5 (Common English Bible)

Every table has stories to tell. If the tables in your life could talk, what would they say? They'd tell stories of birthday celebrations and difficult conversations. They'd remember homework sessions and bill-paying marathons. They'd recall the laughter of grandchildren and the tears of heartbreak.

David understood this when he wrote Psalm 23. Even in the midst of his enemies, even when life was difficult and dangerous, God prepared a table for him. Not just food, but a feast. Not just survival, but celebration. Not just enough, but abundance – a cup that overflows.

That's the kind of God we serve. A God who doesn't just meet our basic needs but who prepares feasts for us. A God who doesn't just keep us alive but who fills our cups to overflowing. A God who knows that we need more than mere existence. We need celebration, community, and hope.

But here's what strikes me about this verse: God prepares this feast "right in front of our enemies." Not after the problems are solved. Not when life gets easier. Not when all our enemies have been defeated. Right in the middle of our struggles, God sets a table.

Maybe you're facing enemies right now – not necessarily people who wish you harm, but circumstances that feel overwhelming. Financial stress that keeps you up at night. Health concerns that won't go away. Relationships that feel broken beyond repair. Family members who seem determined to make life difficult.

God doesn't promise to remove all these challenges immediately. But God does promise to prepare a table for you right in the middle of them. A place where you can find nourishment, rest, and hope. A place where your cup can be filled to overflowing, even when everything around you feels empty.

Personal Application: Where are you facing "enemies" in your life right now – situations or circumstances that feel overwhelming or threatening? How might God be preparing a table for you in the midst of these challenges? Look for signs of God's provision and abundance, even in difficult times.

Prayer: Lord, when life feels overwhelming and our enemies seem to surround us, thank you for preparing a table for us. Help us see your provision and abundance even in the middle of our struggles. Fill our cups to overflowing with your love, peace, and hope. Remind us that you are always with us, always caring for us, always preparing good things for us. Amen.