The Shepherd and MeSample

THE LORD PREPARES A TABLE FOR ME

David was the youngest in Jesse’s family, destined to a simple life in the countryside shepherding his father’s flock. However the Lord had other plans. He made David, Israel’s champion and King, to fight bloody wars and establish peace and justice in Israel. David by sword won peace and prosperity and in the process made enemies all around. Yet, even when surrounded by enemies baying for His blood, David’s confidence in life was that His God provides for Him and does what is good. The God of Israel raised a lowly shepherd boy and a wretched sinner to be a servant in His court and hosts Him at His very table. Just as God provided a feast of manna and quail for the children of Israel in the wilderness, God provides His David a table of plenty. None of David’s enemies can thwart God’s provision and blessing upon His covenant child. Satan and His legions can only merely watch the Lord generously provide salvation’s blessing to His children. No weapon that is fashioned against God’s people shall succeed (Isaiah 54:17). God exalts His children and seats them with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), such that all the world knows the abundant goodness of God for those who fear Him (Psalm 31:19). 

This is why the Lord anoints His children with oil. The God of Israel redeems sinners from the pit of death and crowns them with steadfast love and mercy (Psalm 103:4). Unworthy sinners are surrounded by the favour of the Lord (Psalm 5:12), for in Christ Jesus, they are not deemed as vessels for destruction but rather as a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own treasured possession (I Peter 2:9). The Lord’s goodness towards His children never ends and their cup will forever overflow, for Jesus emptied Himself by taking upon Himself our flesh, our sufferings and our sins on the cross. The wrath of God on sinners has been quenched in Jesus and now no good thing does God withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11).