Sermon series: A SUMMER IN THE PSALMS

Psalm 23 A TABLE IN MY ENEMY'S PRESENCE

"The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Message: We have now come to the closing message of this blessed portion of God's Holy Word. The phrase we are now studying is: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
In our last study, we noted that the shepherd moves his flock to the high country for better pasturage during the summer months. These are known as alplands or tablelands so much sought after by sheepmen.
Before the shepherd moves his flock on to one of the high plateau pasturelands, he will make an expedition or two to prepare the tableland 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. The intelligent, careful shepherd will also decide well ahead of time where his camps will be located so the sheep have the best bed grounds. He goes over the range carefully to determine how vigorous the grass and upland vegetation is. At this time he decides whether some glades or basins can be used only lightly whereas other slopes and meadows may be grazed more heavily. He will check to see if there are poisonous weeds appearing, and if so, he will plan his grazing program to avoid them, or take drastic steps to eradicate them.
All of this sort of thing was in the back of David's mind as he penned these lines. I can picture him walking slowly over the summer range ahead of his flock. His eagle eye is sharp for any signs of poisonous weeds which he would pluck before his sheep got to them.
The parallel in the Christian life is clear! like sheep, and especially lambs, we somehow feel that we have to try everything that comes our way. We have to taste this thing and that, sampling everything just to see what it is like. And we may know that some things are deadly. They can do us no good. To forestall our getting into grief of this sort, we need to remember our Master has been there ahead of us coping with every situation which would otherwise undo us. Our great Good Shepherd is going ahead of us in every situation, anticipating what danger we may encounter, and praying for us that in it we might not succumb.
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of

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grace with confidence; so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16).
"Every valley shall be raised up; every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level; the rugged places a plain" (Isaiah 40:4). "I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron" (Isaiah 45:2).
"So I can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6)
In the high tablelands of summer pasture there are many predators. There are wolves, cougars and bears. If these raid or molest the sheep, the shepherd will have to hunt them or go to great pains to trap them so that his flock can rest in peace.

Often what actually happens is that these crafty predators are up on the rim rock watching every movement the sheep make; hoping for a chance to make a swift, sneaking attack that will stampede the sheep. Then one or other of the flock is bound to fall easy prey to the attacker’s fierce teeth and claws. The stampede will cause the sheep to flee in many directions; and it is the lone sheep that will be the target of the predator.
For the shepherd; the predators are the enemies. It is in the presence of these enemies; the shepherd prepares and watches over his flock as they flourish on the lush vegetation of the tablelands.
For the Christian; our enemy is the destroyer of souls. Our Good Shepherd said: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28).
Paul identifies our enemy. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" -(Ephesians 6:10-12).
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:37-38).
"Through You we push back our enemies; through Your name we trample our foes" (Psalm 44:5).
Our Good Shepherd said: "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the powers of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
It is rather fashionable in some contemporary Christian circles to discredit Satan. There is a tendency to try to write him off, or laugh at him, as though he was just a joke

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Some deny that such a being as Satan even exists. Yet we see evidence of his merciless attacks and carnage in a society where men and women fall prey to his cunning tactics almost every day. We see lives torn and marred and seared by his assaults though we may never see him personally.
Peter warns: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (1 Peter 5:8-9)
And the next verse reads: "And the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
OUR GOOD SHEPHERD HAS PREPARED FOR US A SPIRITUAL BANQUET TO ENJOY AND STRENGTHEN US IN OUR JOURNEY TO GLORY!
It is not always apparent to us what tremendous personal cost it has been for Christ to prepare the table for His own. Just as the lonely, personal privation of the sheepmen who prepares the summer range for his flock entails a sacrifice, so the lonely agony of Gethsemane, of Pilate's hall, of Calvary, have cost my Master much!
His banquet table is spread with love. His coming to earth as the Christ, as Jesus of Nazareth, was a straightforward 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. This was love! This was God! This was divinity in action, delivering men from their own utter selfishness, their own stupidity, their own suicidal instincts as lost sheep unable to help themselves.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him" (1 John 3:1)
AND AT THIS BANQUET TABLE, WE HAVE THE JOY OF PARTAKING OF HIS FORGIVENESS. "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13). "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more" (Isaiah 43:25).
"I have swept away your offences like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you" (Isaiah 44:22). "Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon" (Isaiah 55:7). Our Good Shepherd said: "This is My blood of the covenant which is poured out for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:28).

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AT HIS BANQUET TABLE, WE PARTAKE OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. Listen to the Good Shepherd: "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of Truth.
The world cannot accept Him because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:15-17). "On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were latter to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified" (John 7:37-39). "And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep My laws" (Ezekiel 36:27).
AND HIS PEACE SURROUNDS THIS BANQUET TABLE! "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27). Our Good Shepherd continues: "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
"But He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 8:1).
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful" (1 Peter 3:11).
HE HAS PREPARED A TABLE...A SPIRITUAL BANQUET FOR ALL WHO WILL TRUST HIM.
And our Psalm continues:
"Thou anointest my head with oil." Remember, in our Psalm, the sheep are enjoying the tablelands of pasture. But summer time is fly time. Sheep are especially troubled by the nose fly, or nasal fly, as it is sometimes called. These little flies buzz about the sheep's head, attempting to deposit their eggs on the damp, mucous membranes of the sheep's nose. If they are successful the eggs will hatch in a few days to form small, slender, worm-like larvae. They work their way up the nasal passages into the sheep's head; they burrow into the flesh and there set up an intense irritation accompanied by severe inflammation.
For relief from this agonizing annoyance sheep will deliberately beat their heads against trees, rocks, posts, or bush. They will rub them in the soil and thrash around against woody growth. In extreme cases of intense infestation a sheep may even kill itself in a frenzied endeavor to gain respite from the aggravation. Often advanced stages of infection from these flies will lead to blindness.
Only the strictest attention to the behavior of the sheep by the shepherd can forestall the difficulties of "fly time." At the very first sign of flies among the flock he will apply an antidote to their heads. The oil applied was a mixture of linseed oil, sulphur and tar.

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What an incredible transformation this would make among the sheep. Once the oil had been applied to the sheep's head there was an immediate change in behavior. Gone was the aggravation; gone the frenzy; gone the irritability and the restlessness. Instead; the sheep would start to feed quietly again, then soon lie down in peaceful contentment.
Dr. Keller, in his wonderful little book on this Psalm, makes this application: "This, to me is the exact picture of irritations in my own life. How easy it is for there to be a fly in the ointment of even my most lofty spiritual experience! So often it is the small, petty annoyances that ruin my repose. It is the niggling distractions that become burning issues that can well nigh drive me round the bend and up the wall. At times some tiny, tantalizing thing torments me to the point where I feel I am just beating my brains out. And so my behavior as a child of God degenerates to a most disgraceful sort of frustrated tirade.
Just as with the sheep there must be continuous and renewed application of oil to forestall the "flies" in my life, there must be a continuous anointing of God's gracious Spirit to counteract the ever-present aggravations of personality conflicts. Only one application of oil, sulphur and tar was not enough for the entire summer. It was a process that had to be repeated. The fresh application was the effective antidote."
It is this daily anointing of God's gracious Spirit upon my mind which produces in my life such personality traits as joy, contentment, love, patience, gentleness and peace. Every Christian has the daily need of fellowship and spiritual communion with the Good Shepherd. We need that fresh anointing daily.
In the Christian life, most of our contamination by the world, by sin, by that which would defile and disease us spiritually comes through our minds. It is a case of mind meeting to transmit ideas, concepts and attitudes which may be damaging. The only possible, practical path to attaining such a mind free of the world's contamination is to be conscious daily, hourly of the purging presence of God's Holy Spirit, applying Himself to our mind.
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. .Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good pleasing and perfect will" (Romans 12:1-2).
David prayed: "Create in me a pure heart, 0 God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10).
John writes: "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. As for you, the anointing you received from Him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit--just as it has taught you, remain in Him" (1 John 2:20, 28)
And as for the mind, Paul gives us a wonderful list of things to think upon: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)

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Our Psalm continues: "My cup runneth over." It is not merely full; it runs over. This, too, indicates abundance and from the abundance of the favors thus bestowed, the psalmist infers that God would always provide for him; and that He would never leave him to want.
Dr. Keller tells us: When summer was ending and it was time to leave the tablelands, frequently unexpected blizzards and storms would suddenly shroud the hills. And when a ewe or lamb was chilled from undue exposure to wet, cold weather, the shepherd carried a bottle containing a mixture of brandy and water. A few spoonfuls given to the chilled lamb would give them new energy from the warmth of the brandy. The important thing was to find the frozen, chilled sheep before it was too late. It was necessary for the shepherd to remain very close and attentive to the flock during the time of the storms and cold weather. And with his little bottle of brandy or wine, the shepherd brought warmth to the cold sheep.
What a picture of our Good Shepherd, sharing the wine, the very life blood of His own suffering from His overflowing cup, poured out at Calvary for all of us! He is there with us in every storm. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. Our Shepherd is alert to every approaching disaster that threatens His people. He has been through the storms we face, His very life and strength and vitality is poured into ours. It overflows so the cup of our lives runs over with His life...often with great blessing and benefit to others who watch us stand up so well in the midst of trials and sufferings.
The twenty-third Psalm portrays life as a pilgrimage, and in the final verse the psalmist rightly comes to life's goal, which is God's house. "Surely goodness and mercy (love) will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
To have a sure home was always a desire of the nomadic people who occupied the area of the Near East bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, the Red Sea, and the great Arabian desert.
We too long for such a home! "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life" (2 Corinthians 5:1-4).
Our Good Shepherd said: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions (rooms); if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going" (John 14:1-4).
And all the way home, our Good Shepherd who watches over us, desires the best for us, and loves us intensely with a never-dying love, will guide us and protect us with goodness and mercy until we reach our eternal home.
I trust that Jesus Christ is your Shepherd, your Saviour, your Lord and Master...your owner!