Psalm 23

The table, the oil, and God's faithfulness. You have all heard things said over you that assure you that God will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies and anoint your head with oil. And cause your cup to run over. You are transitioning into this season and for many of you some of these divine opportunities are beginning to open up but you are also seeing resistance.

In a season of uncommon favour, where the prophetic promises of God made years ago start to come to pass, it is important to be vigilant and exercise wisdom and discernment. Always have a team of intercessors updated and in the loop to ensure you are covered in prayer during these events. Always remain vigilant in ministry. To avoid enemy strategies, we must position ourselves correctly and seek the Lord's guidance. We should be diligent in seeking the Lord, intercede, and move with wisdom and discernment. Ask for revelation and be prepared to face the strategies of the kingdom of darkness. Protect our minds and avoid fear, as it can rob promises and cripple us. As we transition to prepared tables, it is important to address pressure, resistance, and retaliation that may arise.

Psalm 23, NKJV | 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not [a]want. 2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures; He leads me beside the [c]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 [d]dwell in the house of the Lord [e]Forever.

Psalm 23 highlights the role of the Lord as our good shepherd, protector, daily provider, peace, rest, and guide in every circumstance. God's faithfulness is evident in His guidance and protection, even in dark valleys. Even in the shadow of death, God's presence is evident, providing peace and salvation and shaping us into His image. So even in the worst of circumstances, God’s protection, peace, and salvation are apparent and available. No matter what circumstances we encounter, God is providing for our needs; we have all we need. God is shaping us into His image. In fact, whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, that is God’s best for us. Even when the circumstances are the darkest and we are facing death.

David says that even though I walk through these most terrifying of circumstances, I fear no evil. Why is David unafraid? Because the Shepherd of Peace is with him. God’s presence is the source of comfort, no matter the circumstances. God’s provision will cause all things to work for the good, and that good is to shape us into His image. No matter how bad or how dire, God’s redemptive purpose is always at work. God is always conforming us to His image, which is creating an eternal glory that will not pass away. The question is whether we will see this as a reality and choose to fear no evil.

The shadow of death represents a circumstantial reality. Sometimes things are difficult, even tragic. But the fear of evil is a choice. So notice how it doesn’t say that there won’t be difficult circumstances. David’s Psalm delineates between the two. He may experience the valley, but he will not let the circumstances lead him to fear evil. The tragic circumstance, importantly, is not evil itself. It only tempts us to fear evil because we are not in control, do not understand, or do not want the difficulty. Even within these realities, God is there. And choosing this perspective over and against the fear of evil is, like we find in the book of Job, an act of worship. It is an acknowledgement and trust that the Lord is our Shepherd and is guiding us into something that will work for our best.

God’s presence is the great power, the great comfort, and the great source of peace and rest. David reinforces this by saying, Your rod and your staff comfort me. The circumstances are dire, but David is comforted by the ever-present knowledge that God is there. He is shaping all things for good, even if that is beyond our capacity to conceive. The word comfort is the Hebrew “naham,” which can also mean “console” or “ease.” God does not eliminate the circumstances, but through His presence, the pain moves from unbearable to agonisingly manageable. His presence is comforting. You are with me. David’s complete trust in the goodness of God allows him to see beyond the great valleys of life’s circumstances. He knows there is something bigger at work, something that extends beyond this life. This is a great source of comfort, knowing that all things can be shaped by God to result in good.

Now verse 5 begins with 'you preparing a table before me in the presence of my enemies'. Preparing a table is pretty straightforward. One of the reasons this Psalm is so popular is because of its clear, vivid imagery. The metaphors are clean and easily comprehensible. In this one, God is preparing a meal. a meal in which the singer of the song is the guest of honor. He prepares the table for us. This meal might even be prepared in the valley of the shadow of death.

Eating a meal is an exercise in intimacy; it is familial and relational. Perhaps the most relational activity humans participate in—which is likely why Jesus talks about Himself as the bread of life and uses the last supper as a message to His disciples. It is why Jesus tells us that the way to purchase all the gold we want from Him and all the treasure we desire is to listen to His voice and invite Him in to dine with Him (Revelation 3:18–20). It is why we practice the taking of communion, which is an excerpt from the Passover meal and a discipline familiar to church history, as is the practice of praying before a meal. There is something very sacred about eating together. The picture here is of God preparing a meal and sitting down to have an intimate dinner, in the very presence of dark circumstances, in the very presence of enemies.

So note that the table is prepared 'IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENEMIES'. In the midst of constant threats, David experienced a “table in their presence.” Imagine it for a moment. A ‘table’ speaks of rest, of provision, of safety, of security, and of well-being. And yet this is experienced “in the presence” of enemies who intend him harm and of circumstances of want and experienced losses. This is something transcendent of the ebb and flow of fortune and creaturely comforts, something that cannot be threatened, a table of God’s own making, a feasting upon God’s own presence, an undisturbed shalom at the heart of the storm. But the table is prepared in the presence of enemies—see here—it never promises peaceful tables, so do not count it strange if there’s hostility, resistance, jealousy, or envy—but it cannot touch us at this table. See, whatever your storm or struggle, whatever threats press in upon you, whatever enemies conspire—nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ, and the love of God in Christ. God is your table in the presence of enemies. May you perceive this table as the truest thing about your life and circumstances; learn to take your place at its side and enjoy feasting upon its provision.

The phrase 'in the presence of my enemies' harkens back to verse 4 and the shadow of death. The word translated enemies here is the Hebrew word “sarar.” It can mean distress, bind up, vex, afflict, etc. The root of the word means “to cramp.” So, the word is used for those things that suffocate us. Enemies here is defined as those things which threaten to choke the life out of us. In the presence of these forces, God prepares a table, postured to give us hope and life even in the midst of the threat of the most dire of circumstances, or the most formidable of opponents. Even in the face of death.

God, according to David’s song, does not remove the affliction, enemy, or distress. He prepares a table in its presence while it is still there. God is certainly capable of moving circumstances, but this Psalm is about His incredible power to comfort even in the midst of difficulty. The Psalm anticipates that God’s purpose for us is not to remove us from difficulty but to see us through it. In doing so, God is shaping us, moulding us into His image (Romans 8:28–29).

Next, David speaks to the effect of this omnipresent comfort of God. You have anointed my head with oil. To anoint literally means “to make fat.” It is a sign of favour and prosperity. To anoint with oil was an outward sign of a spiritual reality. The kings of Israel were anointed with oil to signify their high and holy calling to lead. “Christ” means “The Anointed One” and indicates Jesus’ high and holy calling. What is described here is a sign of favour and calling. David was anointed with oil as king by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:12–13). But here David speaks of being anointed by the Lord, his shepherd—a spiritual anointing.

David continues with, 'My cup overflows'. Another simple metaphor is abundance. The cup represents life. It is a vessel, as we are. made useful or meaningful by what fills it. And the anointing means we are filled with God’s presence. The word for overflows, “rvaya,” only appears twice in all of Scripture. Here and in Psalm 66:12, where it is translated as "wealthy," The message is clear: even in the presence of distress, under duress from enemies, and in difficulties as great as the valley of the shadow of death, we have abundance because we have the Lord as our Shepherd.

The presence and provision of God are our comforts in all circumstances. God has a plan for all things and will redeem all things, even suffering. He will cause all things to be for our good, to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:28–29). He will redeem all things and, through the suffering of death, bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10).

The send-off is verse 6. It works as a sort of conclusion and benediction. It begins with surely, a word used for emphasis. It is meant to accentuate a reality inherent in the words that preceded it. We might say something like “of course!” or “indeed” to indicate the same thing this word is meant to convey. It almost suggests that, in light of the evidence above, it would be absurd to reach any other conclusion than the one to follow.

The conclusion begins with this: goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. The word for follow is "radap,” and it means “pursue.” What David is suggesting is that goodness and loving kindness (or “mercy”) will chase after him. “Radap” literally means “to run after.” Goodness and loving kindness follow after God’s presence. They are like the tail of a comet, gravitationally attracted to their source. It is absurd to look for goodness and loving kindness without acknowledging God’s presence. They go where HE is.

And if God’s presence is with David or with us, the manifestations (the New Testament might call them fruits) of God’s presence are sure to follow as well. So we have here the full picture of the perspective David is choosing, and through this Psalm, it invites its singers to choose. Life is full of difficulties. There are enemies. There are valleys. But David trusts that the Lord, as his Shepherd, only led him into this circumstance because His intent is goodness and loving kindness. The essence of this Psalm is David’s ability to look at any circumstance, no matter how tough and say, “That must be just what I needed.” It is a total trust in God’s benevolent intent in all things.

This brings to mind a verse penned by Jeremiah, some 400 years after King David’s time:

Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV | “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

This is God’s statement of benevolent intent towards Israel, and it is spoken into a circumstance that is about as dire as can be imagined. God tells Israel that the Babylonians are about to invade their land, and a large percentage of its population will be killed. Most of the rest will be exiled to Babylon. But even in this most dire of circumstances, God has an intent that is wholly benevolent. This also reminds me of

Genesis 41:52, NKJV | : “The name of the second he called Ephraim, for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

Genesis 41:52 is about Joseph naming his sons. After all he’s been through, remember, going back to Genesis 39, Joseph is sold by his brothers into slavery; he becomes a slave at the hands of his own family. And after years of serving in slavery, he is framed for a crime he did not commit: sexual immorality with Potiphar’s wife. He's been thrown into prison for years. For years, he languishes in a dungeon and then is finally brought out, and now, after all of that, he’s been put in charge of food distribution in the midst of famine, and he is blessed with children. He names his firstborn Manasseh, for he said, God has made me forget all my hardships.

Trusting in God through Suffering

With trust in God, even affliction is fruitful although it seems like such a contradiction in Genesis 41:52. Reflect on God’s strength and mercy. Thank God for His fruit of salvation. So you don’t have to wait till the suffering ends or till the circumstances are ideal—God can raise you right where you are in the midst of all the crazy circumstances. He can and will prepare a table for you in the presence of your enemies; he will make you fruitful in the land of your affliction; that way, his name is really glorified in and through you! Do not count it strange if you are in the midst of transition at the moment but you’re still facing some opposition; there’s frustration; things seem chaotic; do not count these things strange; do not cower; do not fear; do not waver; stand in faith and know who you are in Christ and know His love for you! Stand by His promises! Continue to partner with God and continue to align! You will transition well! You will overcome! You will see victory! Your giants will be slayed! Watch for divine solutions to be released from heaven. Stand your ground. Remember, the book of Luke says that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. What for? To be placed at a table in the presence of His enemy, Satan. so that He could overcome him. One last confrontation—one last desperate attempt by the enemy! You need to stand strong. Going back to Psalm 23, it would seem that the table of transition and in-between brings us before our enemy, maybe for one last meeting before we move on and then have victory and authority over that enemy. The enemy is not brought before us, but the table is made in the presence of the enemy. Note that comfort and peace come in the verse before, and goodness and mercy come in the verse after.

Take authority and prophesy to the north, the south, the east, and the west. Command the direction of the wind. Warrior arise! Intercessor arise! Kingdom entrepreneurs arise! Minister of the Gospel, arise! Soul winners arise! Seers arise! Children of God, arise! Do not cower under the pressure! God's protection is on you! He will give you new strength! Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and revelation will I release to you.. You are the apple of my eye, and I will bring your suffering to an end! says the Lord.

Prayer

Lord, I ask for a fresh breath and the wind of God as I go through the winds of transition. I pray that every vulnerable spot will be covered by the blood of Jesus during the transition. I cancel weariness. I cancel fatigue. I cancel frustration. I cancel hope deferred. I cancel the spirit of heaviness, and I release freedom, love, and a sound mind over myself today. I will transition well. I will see open doors, and I will walk through those doors. I will reap a harvest. I will get to my destination and fulfil my purpose in Christ. I will get to my promised land. And in the transition, strengthen, refine, mature, and equip me for what is next. Make me an overcomer, and teach me to be victorious. I want to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. In the name of Jesus, I ask, Amen.