March 23, 2020
Psalm 23:5 – Your Enemy Will Watch You Eat
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”
A couple of years ago, when I first started out in ministry, I was invited to a ministry conference by one of my colleagues. Unfortunately, at the last minute, my friend was unable to make the trip, and I ended up arriving at the conference by myself. My friend had all of the registration information for the event, and I had already given him my payment for the conference. However, when I arrived at the registration table, they had the name of my friend, but my name was not there. Instead, it said “...and guest”. I was his “...and guest”. Typically, this would not be a problem, but the keynote speaker for the event was well known, and seating was limited. I tried my best to explain the situation to the person at the registration table, but she wouldn’t believe me. In fact, she was becoming more irritated the more I tried to explain. I’m not sure why, but she began to publicly humiliate me for trying to sneak into the event, and stated that I lacked integrity. She then proclaimed loudly, that this conference was probably not for people like me. I was embarrassed and angry, and I felt alone.
As I was walking away from the table, the keynote speaker and a couple of the workshop speakers were passing by and heading towards the main auditorium. With my head down in shame, I heard someone call out my name, “Chris? Chris Delmadge?”. I picked my head up and turned around, and it was one of my father’s colleagues, who happened to be one of the workshop speakers. He was a loud and boisterous kind of preacher, so he wasn’t quiet when he was speaking to me. He asked me about my parents and the ministry. He apologized that he couldn’t make it to my wedding, and he went on and on. He was glad that I was attending the conference, and he asked if I would sit with him and some of the other speakers for lunch. I told him that the “...lady at the registration table said that this conference was probably not for people like me.” (Brothers and sisters...I knew what I was doing.) He bellowed, “This is nonsense!”, and walked over to the registration table and set things straight. He came back with my ticket and welcome packet, and handed it in my hand...and I looked at the lady and whispered the words, “God bless you.”
God has a way of taking care of you, especially when you choose not to get into the flesh and take matters into your own hands. David understood this about his Shepherd. In verse 5 of Psalm 23, he states, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.” This verse describes our Shepherd’s incredible power of provision. When there seems to be no way, our God will make a way. Even in the presence of people who hate you and despise you, your heavenly Father will feed you and nourish you. Your enemy will watch you eat!
So, smile at the table and enjoy what the Lord has prepared for you. Your enemy cannot remove you from a table that God has set for you. If God is going to bless you...He will bless you, and no one can say anything about it. Don’t you dare give your enemies the opportunity or the satisfaction to rejoice in victory. Trust the Good Shepherd. He knows how to take care of his sheep. Even in this uncertain time during this global pandemic crisis, my God will make sure that your cup overflows. While you are wondering and trying to figure out how it’s going to work out, God already has the plan. Don’t you worry, and don’t you fret. You’ve already come this far by faith. Just continue to follow your Shepherd. He will take care of you.
Your Enemy Will Watch You Eat
Now that’s Good Word!
