A Prepared Table

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;  
You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.  

Psalm 23:5 

Fear has a powerful effect upon us. The presence of our enemies would naturally cause us to lose our appetite. David goes so far as to say that Christ, his Shepherd prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. Because Christ is with him, not only does he not fear that they will do evil to him, but he is calm enough to eat bread in their very presence. Christ wanted him to be so calm and composed that he would function in spite of the fact his enemies were in front of him. Christ prepared the table and bade him eat. Christ would have us without fear, even in the presence of our enemies. Then they would paralyze us with their fearful intimidations, He prepares a table before us. We know they are there. We hear their clamoring and shouts of hatred. We see the sunlight flash off their swords and hear their horses snort in anticipation of the battle. Yet we, the sheep of His pasture, eat at the table He has prepared for us. We are unfazed, unshaken, and unmoved by their threatening. Christ is with us. He does more than stand up to defend us. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. If He left us to ourselves we would lose our appetite and freeze or flee. Because He is our Shepherd we eat at His table.  

Our Gracious Master and our God, 
we rejoice that You deliver us from fear. 
We praise You that You provide for us 
in abundance, even in the presence of our enemies. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning