You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Psalm 23:5a NKJV
Can you picture it?
A wooden table with bowls and perhaps a wine flask.
The mother of many children bringing in food and setting everything for the meal.
Finally, she calls to the workshop that all is ready.
The Bible doesn’t tell us what an average day in Jesus’s childhood looked like. However, preparing food and serving the table is often part of a mother’s daily routine.
Today, we are adding Mary to our Nativity.
As the mother of Jesus, she would have been able to prepare many a meal for her son.
However, these verses in Psalms lean towards a much more important table than the every day one.
The line, …”in the presence of my enemies”…, points to a specific table in Jesus’s life.
During the Last Supper, the Passover celebration, Jesus was in the presence of an enemy. He was there with intent to lead more enemies to Jesus.
Matthew 26:25 NKJV — Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, “Rabbi, is it I?” He said to him, “You have said it.”
Even in this Jesus understood all that the Father was allowing and why.
Scripture doesn’t mention Mary, Jesus’s mother at the Last Supper.
She was there at the cross. (John 19:25)
Did she stand there and recall the words?
Luke 2:34 NKJV — Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Even in the presence of so many enemies, Jesus knew this was not the end.
The table prepared before His enemies would be the last He would be at before His crucifixion.
Jesus knew that although this table was a stepping stone to His suffering at the cross, He also understood that same suffering would be a step towards a different table.
Revelation 19:7-9 NKJV — Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
One day Jesus, the Lamb of God, will be at the marriage supper.
Every believer in Jesus is invited.
Not a single enemy will be present.
How difficult it is for us to see suffering as a benefit, yet through the cross and Jesus’s suffering we are made new, clean, and eternal guests at the table of the marriage of the Lamb.
May our hearts praise and thank our Lord Jesus for His suffering and let us rejoice and be glad for the table yet to come!
patientlyhopeful 