PSALM 23:5

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

TO PONDER

Interestingly, this psalm captures both something of our theme for this week and also last week.

This verse comes from arguably the most famous psalm in the Bible - the Shepherd Psalm. It uses the imagery of the Lord, being our shepherd. Who leads his sheep to good pasture and still waters. It evokes the image of the good shepherd who leaves the 99 in his flock to go and search for the one who has strayed (last weeks theme). But this verse also brings us to this week's question "where is Jesus at the party".

Jesus talked a lot about hunger and thirst in his teaching with his disciples and he often addressed people's physical hunger and thirst in miraculous ways. Think of the feeding of the 5,000 or even turning water to wine at the wedding at Cana.

'Preparing a table' for someone is an act of hospitality and generosity, and this verse from Psalm 23 certainly depicts something of the generous nature of God's provision. Overflowing cups, annointing with oil, these are acts and signs of blessing and abundance. This is the kind of life that Jesus came to make avaiable to us, even in the face of our enemies and critics we can have abundant and overflowing life with Jesus.

So I guess the challenge for us today, in light of this verse is how do we see the overflowing abundance of God's love and provision of all our needs even when we feel surrounded by 'enemies' or obstacles? Don't forget that your Good Shepherd is with you even then!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I tank you for the way you have taken care of all that needed to be done so that I could live in relationship with you. Please help me to recognise the overwhelming abundance of your love and mercy towards me so that I may never fail to freely share it with others. Amen

Today's devotion written by Mathew von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle