Thou prepares a table before me…

Thou prepares a table before me…

Continued study on A Shepherd Looks at Psalms 23 – by Phillip Keller

Last week we talked about the shepherds rod and staff.  We learned that the rod is symbolic of the Word of God and the staff is symbolic of the Sprit of God.

This week we’re moving on to how the Shepherd prepares a table for the sheep.  We talked a few weeks ago about how the shepherd drives the sheep thru valleys up to the high ranges for the summer.  We’re going to look at those high places or “table lands” as they are called.    In the Western United States these “table lands” are called mesas which are the Spanish word for table.  Keller points out that the African word for table is also “mesa” and he gives the example of Table Mountain near Cape Town that is world renown.

Keller points out that a shepherd will make a preliminary trip very early in the season, even before all the snow is melted, to check out the “table lands” or mesas that he will be leading his sheep to.   He will prepare the land for them.  He takes along a supply of salt and minerals to be distributed over the range at strategic spots for the benefit of the sheep during the summer.  He will also decide well ahead of time where his camps will be located so the sheep have the best bed ground.  He checks to see if there are poisonous weeds and will take steps to eradicate them.  This is “preparing a table before me in the presence of my enemies”

So the parallel here for us is like sheep, we sometimes feel that we have to try everything that comes our way.  We have to taste this and that and by sampling we may find that some things are deadly.  We need to remember that our Great Shepherd has been there ahead of us coping with every situation which could undo us.

Remember when Jesus warned Peter that Satan desired to tempt him and sift him like wheat?  Jesus pointed out that he had prayed that Peter’s faith might not fail him during the desperate difficulty he would encounter. (Read Luke 22:31). So our great Shepherd is going ahead of us in every situation, anticipating the danger and praying for us, (Romans 8:34)

Another task the Shepherd takes on in the summer on the table land is to keep an eye out for predators.  He will look for signs of wolves, coyotes, cougars & bears.  Keller points out that many times these predators will watch the movements of the sheep from a high rock hoping to make a swift attack that will stampede the sheep.  When that happens he is sure to get at least one of the flock.  Only by an alert shepherd is the flock safe.

Here we’re given a picture of our Shepherd/Savior who knows every trick of the enemy. We are always in danger of an attack.  In scripture Satan is referred to as a “roaring lion “who goes about seeking whom he may devour. Some people, even Christians seem to discredit Satan.  There is the tendency to just laugh him off as though he is a joke.  Yet we see evidence daily of his destructive work.

In the book Keller speaks of cougars coming into his flock at night and working havoc.  Some ewes would be killed outright, their blood drained and their livers eaten.  Others were torn open and badly clawed. In some cases it seemed as though the cat had chased and played with them like a housecat would chase a mouse.   Some had huge patches of wool torn from their fleece.  He stated that despite the damaged, despite the dead sheep, he never once actually saw a cougar on his range.  They were so cunning and skillful that their raids defied description.

That is so like us.  We must walk close to Christ.  That is our one sure place of safety.  It was always the distant sheep, the roamers and wanderers which were picked off by predators.  The same will be true of us as Christians.  We can get into such difficulty that we can’t even cry out for help.  We just crumple under the attack.  But we can thwart the attack of the enemy by staying in the word, daily prayer life and fellowshipping with other Christians.  Back to the triangle

Another chore that the Shepherd does on the tableland is clear out the watering holes, springs amaand drinking places.  Over the course of the winter months the watering places may have become clogged with debris of leaves, stones etc.. He may have to repair small dams he has made to hold water.  He will open up these watering areas so the sheep have good water to drink.

The parallel for us is that our Good Shepherd has gone before us into every situation and every difficulty we might encounter and opened the way for us. We are told that He was “tempted just as we are” Hebrews 4:15. He entered fully and completely and very intimately into the life of men upon our planet.  He knows our sufferings, experienced our sorrows and endured our struggles in this life.  And because of this he understands us, So because of this we can totally rest in Him.  Our walk can be a “tableland” trip, knowing that our shepherd has gone over all the territory that we will be going to and has prepared our table for us in the presence of any enemy that would destroy us if they could. We know that in this life, we still have attacks, we will still deal with poisonous weeds, we will have storms that will come but we can rest in his care.

When we come to the communion table, do we recognize what that has cost Him to prepare that table for us?  He gave up the splendor of Heaven, His position, was exposed to hardship, ridicule, false accusations, rumor, malicious charges that branded him a drunkard, glutton and friend of sinners.  His coming to earth was a case of utter self sacrifice that culminated in the cross of Calvary.  The laid down life, the poured out blood were the supreme symbols of total selflessness.  Divinity in action, delivering men from their own utter selfishness. Lost sheep unable to help themselves.  Total Grace Extended to us.  How can we do less than share and extend that grace to others?