Pastor Rick Hudgens | Psalm 23: God Strengthens Me
Sunday/Sep/2011 13:39
The LORD spreads a sumptuous meal before him, a great banquet, in the presence of his enemies. This figure encompasses all the figures David has used before. That God feeds and provides, leads and protects, is all bound up in this symbol of a gracious host. Interestingly enough, this figure grows right out of the historical situation in which David wrote. When David was driven into the wilderness by his son's rebellion he found himself out in the desert, hungry and weary, his army in disarray. As recorded in Second Samuel 17, three men who were not even Israelites, Shobi, Machir, and Barzillai,...brought beds, basins[so they could wash and refresh themselves], and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, meal, parched grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat; for they said, "The people are hungry and thirsty in the wilderness." (2 Sam 17:28-29)
David saw in this that God, as a gracious host, was preparing a table before him in the presence of his enemies. Paul said it this way: "My God will supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus," (Philippians 4:19 RSV).
Source: http://www.raystedman.org
Join us next Sunday as we conclude the teaching series Psalm 23.
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