While it’s still dark out in the early morning hours, I’ve made it a habit to sit at my desk, because it has a big picture window overlooking my backyard. I get a certain joy from watching as the sun begins to peek through the trees of the woods. I see the shadows lengthen and then recede as the sun makes its way up into the sky.
It’s then that I start to hear the morning sounds of the birds as they swoop in to grab a bite to eat from the bird feeders. I see the squirrels scampering about, eating the corn we’ve put out for them and the other woodland animals to feast on. Occasionally, I’m blessed to see a few deer come into the yard as well.
This is the time I sit all alone with the Lord. We usually discuss the events of the day before, and what the present day may have in store. Depending on my mood or time allowance, I will read a devotional or two. In the recent days, all my devotions had me reading Psalm 23, and this morning seemed to be no different. But it was.
Have you ever read a particular verse or passage of scripture for what seems like the hundredth time, and you're tempted to just skim over it? This is how I was feeling about Psalm 23. It is one of the most quoted passages of the Bible. You see it on plaques, sympathy cards, coffee mugs, and t-shirts. Just about anywhere you can print, stitch, or write, you can find this scripture. It’s even familiar with those who have never read the Bible. Although this morning, the reading of that Psalm was different. As I came to the familiar verses of five and six, the words seemed to leap off the page. It was almost as if they were written in metallic gold lettering.
Psalm 23:5-6
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
In that moment, I pictured a huge, elaborately-decorated banquet table. The table was draped with fine white linen, and along the length of the table were massive vases filled with colorful bouquets of fragrant flowers. Each place setting was laid with the finest china plates and crystal goblets. Beside each plate there was sterling silverware. The table was filled with platters of delicious-looking food. If you’ve ever watched a movie that showed a banquet hall in a palace decorated for an elaborate dinner party, that’s what this would look like.
At this point, Jesus, now beside me, walks me further into the room. He leads me to the head of the table to take the seat right next to Him. It’s at this time I notice the other chairs around the table. Sitting in these chairs were Shame, Regret, Performance, Pride, Rejection, Anger, Resentment, Bitterness, Failure, Liar, Less-Than, You’re-Not-Smart, Jealousy, and many others. They are all talking at once, hurling insults and telling Jesus how terrible and worthless I am. I’m sobbing, hiding my face in my hands, because everything, and I mean everything, they were telling Jesus was something that I had done, said, or thought. As I looked up, there seemed to be more accusers waiting at the door to come in and tell Jesus just how wretched and damaged I really was.
Then Jesus raises His hand. The talking stops. The room becomes so still and silent that if one of those sterling silver forks dropped to the floor, it would have sounded as if an alarm had gone off. He looks at those around the table and says, “It’s finished. She is mine.” He didn’t say it in a booming, stern voice. He just simply stated it. In that instant, my accusers were gone, and the table had been cleared of all the foods that had been there before.
After a brief moment, someone walked into the room carrying a dish. This person was Joy. She placed her dish on the table and took a seat. I started seeing more file into the room…Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. Each would place a dish of food on the table. Each time I thought the table couldn’t hold more food or have room for more to sit, the table would expand.
I began to hear them talk. They were saying things like, “Remember when she went out of her way to show kindness to someone she didn’t even know?” “I remember she did what the LORD asked her to do even when she thought it would make her look foolish." "Ah, yes," said another, "she was so scared her hands were sweating, but she did it.” “My favorite is when she’s on fire with the Holy Spirit helping others find freedom and purpose in their callings,” says another.
On and on the stories went. I turn and see Jesus smiling from ear to ear. A smile so radiant I don’t want to look away. Tears are streaming down my face, but this time not from shame or guilt, but humility and joy. The table kept extending. Chairs kept being added as others joined the banquet. I asked Jesus, “Who are all these people?” He replies, “They are TRUTH, only truth can sit at my Father’s table.” Then I heard this faint whisper: "So then you don’t belong here."
Immediately, a voice from around the table spoke up and said, “Liar, flee, Debbie is our honored guest, and that chair was chosen for her long before she even came into existence. She has been invited to sit at this table by her Father”. Jesus looks at me and says, “That voice speaks truth. Remain at the table and feast on TRUTH. Become so full of truth that is found only at the Father’s table, that you have no room or desire to even nibble on a lie. Turn your nose up at such foul food. Daughters of The Most High God will only feast on the finest and purest of foods.
The statement “You are what you eat” became literal. I have a choice: either to consume the lies and accusations, or to dine on the truth of what my Father thinks and says about me. One is a pig’s trough, and the other is fine dining.
I thought about what I had seen in my mind’s eye. Yes, the first vision of the table looked beautiful piled with tasty foods, but the food was all lies. In some weird way, at times, the lies were comfort food. But that gluttonous food wreaked havoc on my mind, body, and soul. When I look at the table of TRUTH, I see a colorful cornucopia of food. I see greens, brilliant reds, purples, yellows, oranges, and so many more combinations of colors. Truth is vibrant and fresh!
My mind travels back to sitting at the banquet table, and I’m handed a peach. As I bite into it, the juices begin to flow down my face and hands. This is the best-tasting peach I’ve ever eaten, and I want more. I’m told to go ahead and take another. Eat as much as you want. Taste and See that TRUTH is good. Truth heals the mind, feeds the body, and nourishes the soul. I was enjoying the table so much that I didn’t want to leave. Then a to-go box was placed in front of me. Written on the box was “Go and share the truth”. I look at Jesus, again. He’s smiling and nodding His head. He says to me, “Go speak the Father’s truth.”
John 8:31-32 (ESV) If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciple, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
Psalms 34:8 (NLT) Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joy of those who take refuge in him.
~ Debbie Price
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