|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Why does God......? - 9/2/2008 4:41:57 PM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
I was reading Psalm 23 last night and it seemed I was reading verse 5 for the first time! Why does God prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies?
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell[a] in the house of the LORD
Forever.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/2/2008 4:57:40 PM
|
|
|
TorchHeart
Posts: 1602
Joined: 6/4/2008
From: One of the coldest places on Earth
Status: offline
|
My personal interpretation of this would be it is a sign from God to your enemies that you have found favor with God, and that those who persecute you should not do so. It also says to me that God will provide for you, even when other people are threatening to take things from you, or when others have turned against you and will not give you aid.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 2:40:39 AM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: TorchHeart
My personal interpretation of this would be it is a sign from God to your enemies that you have found favor with God, and that those who persecute you should not do so. It also says to me that God will provide for you, even when other people are threatening to take things from you, or when others have turned against you and will not give you aid.
Thank you TorchHeart. This is a very good explanation.
Appreciated.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 8:34:42 AM
|
|
|
drussell52
Posts: 208
Joined: 4/24/2008
From: Michigan
Status: offline
|
Hi. Glad you inserted the entire Psalm, appreciated reading "He restores my soul, (breath of life) If love is to be understood as something beyond an emotion, but reverences, provides, and protects, establishing a table in the presence of one's enemies would truly exemplify that type of love to provide protect and reverence what has been given. Or, what has been created. Reading Scripture is God's way today to provide, protect, and reverence what is His, namely us, you and me, anyone else who by faith trusts Him. Wow this is great and so glad you posted this topic Little_one.. Amen..
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 8:43:46 AM
|
|
|
earthless
Posts: 6274
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: where pigeons are wearing sweaters....
Status: online
|
Like hot coals on their head..........
_____________________________
Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 10:57:14 AM
|
|
|
kyl
Posts: 1681
Joined: 5/2/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
I read that as the Lord is with us and we should never be afraid or worried.
The Lord has prepared the way before us for whatever the enemy might throw our way.
He has given us all we need to be prepared
We have his word,our faith and strength through the power of the Holy Spirit.
And most important we have Him who through the cross , his sacrifice and resurrection has the victory.
He has made every preparation for us and the enemy knows it.
_____________________________
Psalm19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 11:39:13 AM
|
|
|
deermousie
Posts: 1901
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: TorchHeart
My personal interpretation of this would be it is a sign from God to your enemies that you have found favor with God, and that those who persecute you should not do so. It also says to me that God will provide for you, even when other people are threatening to take things from you, or when others have turned against you and will not give you aid.
Excellent, TorchHeart. Thank you.
Maybe it's a divine "neener neener"?
_____________________________
Want to know where a certain word or phrase in the Bible is found? www.biblegateway.com Yay!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 1:15:52 PM
|
|
|
dawnofthemorning
Posts: 200
Status: offline
|
the only answer i can give is that God first loved me by sending his son Jesus......
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/3/2008 3:31:33 PM
|
|
|
Liveloved
Posts: 1914
Status: offline
|
Frequently the psalms speak of our looking with satisfaction upon our enemies. It is referring to God's goodness to us and dealing with all that is evil. So His preparing a table before me in the presence of my enemies is His care and concern and provision for me---even protection from the evil---that will ultimately be known by all. I am sure to a shepherd this has much greater meaning. I remember in Philip Keller's book on a shepherd looking at this psalm, he talked about table land and how the shepherd went ahead and secured it from danger for the sheep who would be following him. But he had much more to say on this.
It is a wonderful reminder that we who are His are always in His love and care---and we need to remember that when we are in the presence of those who mistreat us.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 1:25:12 PM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Liveloved
Frequently the psalms speak of our looking with satisfaction upon our enemies. It is referring to God's goodness to us and dealing with all that is evil. So His preparing a table before me in the presence of my enemies is His care and concern and provision for me---even protection from the evil---that will ultimately be known by all. I am sure to a shepherd this has much greater meaning. I remember in Philip Keller's book on a shepherd looking at this psalm, he talked about table land and how the shepherd went ahead and secured it from danger for the sheep who would be following him. But he had much more to say on this.
It is a wonderful reminder that we who are His are always in His love and care---and we need to remember that when we are in the presence of those who mistreat us.
I remember reading Philip Keller's book way back when I first became a Christian. I believe he mentions something about Tabletop Mountain in his book as being the kind of place that is referred to in this Psalm. It's an interesting comparison.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 8:47:28 PM
|
|
|
hellochurch
Posts: 188
Joined: 7/15/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
are you sure it isn't about sharing our food with our enemiesquote:
In the case of "what would Jesus do"- he would share food with his enemies, for example, he shared a 'sop' with Judas, knowing full well the guy was on his way to have him killed.
...but i see the sheep analogy in the grazing field,. and the wolf etc. as enemy... but 'what would jesus do>' he would feed the wolf, of course!
...my comment on the "table in the midst of enemies" is this,...
notice that the location is not heaven, it is here on the earth, as some christians think things will get good only in the future in heaven, the psalm is saying that the person
why do I say this, ? its because there are NO ENEMIES IN HEAVEN!
1) will not want for anything, (meaning amply supplied) here on the earth,
2) has everything laid out for the by God in divine order, their life is like a giant picnic so to speak, is what the psalm is saying, they have water, rest and food, right in the middle of uglies going on around them,...
....
theres more if i had the time, but i will close with this...
3) though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (notice it is only a shadow of death, it is not real death, but it is a shadow, - a shadow from scripture in the meaning of shadows and types, shadow means darkness cast by something obstructing light, so it is interference in the picnic so to speak, but it is only the shadow of that something, it is not the real thing itself.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 8:48:43 PM
|
|
|
hellochurch
Posts: 188
Joined: 7/15/2008
Status: offline
|
how does that quote thingy work....
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 8:55:15 PM
|
|
|
Dancre
Posts: 1254
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
I went on line and discovered this:
quote:
In ancient Near Eastern culture, at a banquet it was customary to anoint a person with fragrant oil as a lotion. Hosts were also expected to protect their guests at all costs. God offers the protection of a host even when enemies surround us. In the final scene of this psalm, we see that believers will dwell with God. God, the perfect shepherd and host, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into his house forever. http://www.rwf2000.com/2000/23pslm.htm
Does that help?
kim
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 8:57:40 PM
|
|
|
Dancre
Posts: 1254
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: hellochurch
how does that quote thingy work....
When you are in the reply of message box, look at the boxes above the front face. See the 'quote' box?
Highlight what you want to quote, paste it in the reply box, then hightlight again and hit the quote box.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 9:09:22 PM
|
|
|
hellochurch
Posts: 188
Joined: 7/15/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
Highlight what you want to quote, paste it in the reply box, then hightlight again and hit the quote box.
....testing.... and thank you.
P.S. just a thought on 'the armor of God' which is what the bible calls it,
,,,,it just occurred to me that it is the armor OF God, meaning God's armor, which could mean that God wears it or has worn it, and he is giving it to us, ie. when King Saul offered David his armor, what he offered to David was the 'armor of Saul' .
Anyway you can look at it as armor offered to us BY God, made for us,
or you could look at it as GOD's personal armor that He wears, and he is giving us His own Warring clothes.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/4/2008 9:21:03 PM
|
|
|
makarizo
Posts: 3004
Joined: 4/13/2005
Status: offline
|
I think if I were a sheep, God would take me to the nicest, greenest pastures, and even if lions and tigers and bears were in my presence, I would eat well, and not fear because God is with me....... my cup runneth over!!!
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/5/2008 1:55:13 AM
|
|
|
OneJohn410
Posts: 1243
Joined: 6/1/2008
Status: offline
|
quote:
Why does God prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies?
quote:
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Hi Little_1,
The book mentioned is written by a shepherd, and this psalm is written by the shepherd David, who considered God to be his shepherd. The book is excellent, btw.
Your question about God's location for a table for you- I agree. To just read it, hey, Lord. What's up with inviting all my enemies to this? I don't want anything to do with them.
For a shepherd, though, there's so much that needs doing that he or she is hopping with that rod and staff each and every day. It was already mentioned- the shepherd has to go before the flock of grass-guzzling sheep and prepare land up ahead for them to move on to. Places where a sheep could step in a hole and break a leg, or be trampled by the rest of the herd after getting out of it is no good. Snakes, lions, toxic plants... all are no good. Sheep are not smart, they just eat, grow wool, and do sheep stuff. Sheep will eat land down to the dirt if a shepherd isn't careful and keep them on the move. So the table is the next big field of grass for the beloved flock to live on.
Okay, the cup of oil for a sheep is a wonderful thing. The oil detracts flies, pests, can be an ointment... it wasn't for a hip-hop woolly headed hairstyle extreme makeover. This little book that's been mentioned is likely in any bookstore... it ranks right up there with In His Steps and the recent Prayer of Jabez.
I do like the other posts shared with you. I always thought of myself sitting at this table, and there's all these people I really dislike, and then the Lord goes and soaks my head with this cup of oil, and I'm supposed to think it's a great thing? Then I read A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23, and so I have no excuse for not coming up with my own reflection of this psalm.
OneJohn410
_____________________________
When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about. Luke 2:15 (NLT)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/5/2008 2:57:35 AM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: hellochurch
.......but i see the sheep analogy in the grazing field,. and the wolf etc. as enemy... but 'what would jesus do>' he would feed the wolf, of course!......
hellochurch
I think in the case of Psalm 23, we need to stick to the anaolgy intended. The shepherd in the psalm (whilst relating to Jesus) would not in this case feed the wolves surrounding his sheep. So with this in mind, although Jesus would encourage us to be good and kind to our enemies, I don't honestly believe that is what is intended here. We need to be careful not to read anything into Scripture which is not there and take things in their context.
I do agree with my sister earlier that it was an interesting thought however but I really don't believe that is what is being taught in this particular passage of Scripture although I can see why people may arrive at this thought.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/5/2008 3:03:08 AM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: makarizo
I think if I were a sheep, God would take me to the nicest, greenest pastures, and even if lions and tigers and bears were in my presence, I would eat well, and not fear because God is with me....... my cup runneth over!!!
Christians are in the midst of 'enemies' in everyday life! i.e. this Psalm is very relevant to all Christians at this moment in time no matter where we are. If you remember - we are all in the presence of our enemies (spiritual wickedness in high places) even if we don't have any physical enemies. Being God's child/ren - you/we are in the presence of enemies! So this Psalm is relevant to you and I every single day of our earlthly lives.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/5/2008 3:08:32 AM
|
|
|
Little_1
Posts: 1488
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: OneJohn410
......For a shepherd, though, there's so much that needs doing that he or she is hopping with that rod and staff each and every day. It was already mentioned- the shepherd has to go before the flock of grass-guzzling sheep and prepare land up ahead for them to move on to. Places where a sheep could step in a hole and break a leg, or be trampled by the rest of the herd after getting out of it is no good. Snakes, lions, toxic plants... all are no good. Sheep are not smart, they just eat, grow wool, and do sheep stuff. Sheep will eat land down to the dirt if a shepherd isn't careful and keep them on the move. So the table is the next big field of grass for the beloved flock to live on......
OneJohn410
I love the way you have shared this and thank you. It has been a blessing to me.
_____________________________
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Why does God......? - 9/5/2008 3:02:10 PM
|
|
|
mariadreamer
Posts: 255
Joined: 5/17/2005
From: va
Status: offline
|
In the tradition of the Orthodox Church, we read this psalm before Holy Communion - for the very reason that the "table" is the reference to it. It is a beautiful psalm. Despite the troubles and temptations of this world, God prepares the table to feed us with the Bread from Heaven.
_____________________________
Christ is risen from the dead,
by death He has trampled down death,
and on those in the tombs bestowing life!
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
