Reflections on Psalm 23 Part 10: The Table is Ready

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.

Okay... I'm going to be really careful in what I write so I don't step on anyone's toes.

Everyone who has been a regular reader of this knows that I have enemies- well, I do not hate them, so they are not my enemies really, but I guess I am theirs. (And for reasons which I am still totally unaware).

You know, in December or January, if I had been writing on Psalm 23, I don't know if I would have had anything to write about during that time. I didn't really have people who bullied me, glared at me, or persecuted me otherwise. And then people turned on me- and for what seems to be the first time in my life, I have people who seem to genuinely hate my guts for no apparent reason.

It's not fun- or comfortable- to be in the presence of enemies. And God knows that.

But, He prepares a table in spite of the circumstances. In some translations, the word for table is "feast."

A FEAST is prepared. Here we find further consideration of verse 1- "I shall not want."- Why? Because a feast is prepared! He provides for our wants in providing this feast! Isn't that amazing?

And this feast is prepared even though I am in the presence of my enemies- both worldly enemies, and the ultimate enemy, Satan. In partaking of this miraculous feast in the presence of enemies, God provides. And God provides in the presence of the enemies so they can see it- and see how God provides in spite of their malice and bitterness and scorn.

God reminds us of this because even though circumstances may seem bad, He still provides for us. Even in those circumstances- actually, it is during those circumstances when He provides the most. I think that's pretty amazing.

I finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie today... It made me cry.

Anyway, Morrie had some things to say when it comes to enemies and forgiveness..
Morrie says,
"People are only mean when they're threatened.... and when you get threatened, you start looking only out for yourself."

"There is no point in keeping vengeance or stubbornness. These things I so regret in my life. Pride. Vanity. Why do we do the things we do?"

Morrie then tells about a relationship he dropped with a friend who wronged him. He goes on...
"Over the years, I met Norman a few times and he always tried to reconcile, but I didn't accept it. I wasn't satisfied with his explanation. I was prideful. I shrugged him off. A few years ago, he died of cancer. I feel so bad. I never got to see him. I never got to forgive. It pains me so much....Forgive yourself. Forgive others. Don't wait."

Morrie's last words when interviewed with Ted Koppel can be seen here. (You can watch the whole clip, but my reference begins around 5:00 minutes).

"Be compassionate, and take responsibility for each other. If we only learned those lessons, the world would be a better place."

Isn't that true? What if everyone would drop their grudges and petty grievances and forgive one another? What would the world look like? It would be a better place. Not perfect, but lives would be so much better.

You know, I was thinking about my own personal enemies. As I recently heard someone say, "It takes a lot of energy to be cruel and ignorant to a person." What if the enemies used their energy on something productive rather than focusing so much on making my life miserable?

It takes energy and effort to hold on to a grudge. I could be holding a grudge against the said people, but I don't. I let it go. I tried to reconcile. And knowing that I have done that, my life feels great.

Give it up= don't hang on to grudges and material things. They are petty in the grand scheme of things.

Enemies? I've got them, yeah, but I've also got a table set before me and that means my enemies don't matter. In the end, victory is mine, and "vengeance is mine," so saith the Lord.

The table is set. The feast is here. The enemies? Don't let them bother you. Keep praying for them, and if they glare at you, smile back. Because the table is set for you.

Blessings:
-I only missed TWO on my EXAM from last Thursday!!!!!!!

-We had a quiz today and we also got it back today after break- and again, I only missed TWO!!!!!

-Nap time!

-Time to read

-Reading and gleaning good information from scholarly articles on SSR (Yeah, again, I'm such a nerd)

-Time to practice

-Dinner at a professor's house with good food and great company

-Buying flowers for those who I appreciate

-Sitting down and enjoying the table that is set before me.