Bible Study-Psalms 23 (The Shepherd Psalms) PART 5

Text: Psalms 23:5, Prov 9:1-6

• While it is very helpful to think of ourselves as sheep, and Christ as a Shepherd; there can be no fellowship between the dumb animals and their watchful keeper. The Shepherds child, on the other hand, has an intimate fellowship with him although she can hardly articulate that verbally.
• Therefore, the Psalmist seems to say, I am more than Jehovah's Sheep: I am Jehovah's guest. In this verse, we see how in the East it is a mark of great intimacy to sit with a man at his table. "He that breaketh bread with me is he that lifteth up his heel against me."
• This verse causes us to pause and compare our life to a set at God banquet table, eating the things which he has prepared.

1. We sit at the table of God's daily providence our father has a great family and he is concerned about all of creation but we are his family! He will never be late or a moment too soon. Think about the widow with the cruse of oil and flour (1 Kin 17:12-16) or when he rained bread from heaven (Exo 15:16) He fed the five thousand with a boy's five loaves of bread and two fishes. (Mark 6:38) He met the crowd's present needs and there was more than enough left over. We are better than the world but have to exercise faith (Mat 9:29). Young children do not fret about their daily meals, they have faith that they will be fed. (Psa 34:10, Psa 78:25, Mat 22:4)
2. God prepares the table of spiritual refreshment. He anticipates our spiritual requirements "His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood drinks indeed." Christ is our Passover, so we like th Israelities stand around the table of Christ's flesh and blood to get nourishment for our souls. (1 Cor 1:7) Let's not be thoughtless about the necessity of feeding off God's table for the nourishment of our spiritual life. We need to enjoy God by meditating on his word.

• Additionally, God has prepared the table of the Lord's supper for us to reflect upon the suffering he endured for us (Mark 14:22)
• We can thank God that he has "prepared for me" He does not allow us to be taken by surprised. He foresees our needs: the good works in which we are walk as well as the food that should nourish us.
• Additional, God's provision cannot be hindered by all the enemies of his children: they have no power over us. That's why God bids us (Song of Solomon 5:16)

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The Campbells