Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the God who provides, both in good times and in bad times. David records: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”
In previous phrases David has said that he does not lack and has spoken of God’s rich pastures. What makes this verse different is the presence of the enemies. It seems David wants to emphasize that his Shepherd’s ability to provide is not hampered by adverse circumstances. Even in dangerous and threatening times, God feeds His children, spreading before them a table of provision. This implies a sense of calm and normalcy even in the midst of the crisis, as he is able to sit down to a table.
David declares that even in times of affliction, the righteous will have sufficient food, enough to satisfy. “The meek [afflicted] shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him. Your heart shall live for ever” (Ps. 22:26). A time of evil or famine does not prevent God from fully caring for His children. “They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied” (Ps. 37:19).
David wasn’t just making up something that sounded good. No, he had seen God work this out multiple times during his life. Perhaps the first time was when he was fleeing from Saul after Jonathan’s warning. As David fled with no prior notice and with just the clothes on his back, he arrived at Nob desperate for food. He received the best bread imaginable. “So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away” (I Sam. 21:6).
Later, David and his men were hungry in the desert. After Nabal refused to give anything to David, David was on the brink of performing a massacre. “Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses” (I Sam. 25:18). God not only prevented the carnage, but also supplied a feast.
David was caught in a great civil war, as Absalom gained popularity and sought to overthrow his father. After narrowly escaping an ambush, David and his men were still on the run and in need of food. “And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi, … Machir, … and Barzillai … brought beds, and basons, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse, and honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness” (II Sam. 17:27-29). Through these three men, God provided an abundance of food and supplies.
When David was in the midst of conflict with the Philistines, he had a yearning for his city of Bethlehem, thinking nostalgically of the well there. In this situation of great risk, three of David’s men delivered one of the most precious drinks of water ever provided. “And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out to the LORD” (II Sam. 23:16).
When David was at Hebron, still in danger from Saul and his army, he reached a point of growing support from those who were ready to make David king. At this time of transition, God provided an abundance of food. “And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them. Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel” (I Chr. 12:39-40).
David knew the generosity of God’s provision, even in times of great danger and adversity. Even then, God never abandoned him but continued to provide all that David needed.
God’s hand is not short, and His resources never run out. May He provide for you all that you need this week.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
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