Psalm 23:5-6
The host similarly provides a meal (table and cup, v.5-6)
and appropriate refreshment and honor to the guest (v.6) as seen in not just
the table preparations but the anointing with oil. However, the Lord as our
Host does more than that. In the ancient Middle Eastern culture “the law of
hospitality” was supreme and made the host responsible to offer protection
to those who shelter in his home. The Lord
as host in this psalm not only protects the guest from enemies but vindicates
the guest in their presence (v. 5). This is no hurried meal snatched in the
anxiety of imminent attack, but a humanized form of the rest experienced by
sheep whose shepherd has led them to green pastures. Spurgeon, the great 19th
Century preacher, when commenting on this psalm, wrote,
“When
a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a
hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. But observe: ‘Thou preparest a table,’ just as a servant
does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast
on an ordinary peaceful occasion. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no
disturbance, the enemy is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the
Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace.”[1]
The Lord is our
host, both now and in the future. The psalmist makes it clear that he was
currently participating in the banquet and would continue to enjoy “dwelling” with the Lord in the future, even forever.
You prepare a table before 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 shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
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 shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Comments:
Psalm 23 is usually referred to as “The Shepherd Psalm” for
good reason (v.1-4), but it also contains the imagery of the host and honored guest
(v. 5-6). This second aspect of Psalm 23 gets very little attention compared to
the first. However, there are a number of similarities between the two.
The shepherd shows the sheep hospitality by providing good food,
drink, and a comfortable place to rest (v.1-3). The shepherd also offers his sheep protection as they journey on good paths that reflect well on the
character of the shepherd (v.3-4).
The host similarly provides a meal (table and cup, v.5-6)
and appropriate refreshment and honor to the guest (v.6) as seen in not just
the table preparations but the anointing with oil. However, the Lord as our
Host does more than that. In the ancient Middle Eastern culture “the law of
hospitality” was supreme and made the host responsible to offer protection
to those who shelter in his home. The Lord
as host in this psalm not only protects the guest from enemies but vindicates
the guest in their presence (v. 5). This is no hurried meal snatched in the
anxiety of imminent attack, but a humanized form of the rest experienced by
sheep whose shepherd has led them to green pastures. Spurgeon, the great 19th
Century preacher, when commenting on this psalm, wrote,“When
a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a
hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. But observe: ‘Thou preparest a table,’ just as a servant
does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast
on an ordinary peaceful occasion. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no
disturbance, the enemy is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the
Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace.”[1]
He leads us to his house and there, where everyone can see, he
makes it clear that we not only are under his protection but are honored by
his relational hospitality. Yet some might think that this is only our 15
minutes of fame and that soon we will be out on our own again. This is not what
the psalm teaches. Nor is it like western hospitality that is done from a
carefully orchestrated distance of individualism. Derek Kidner comments,
In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someone’s
table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminated token of a
covenant…So to be God’s guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a
day. It is to live with Him.” [2]
The Lord is our
host, both now and in the future. The psalmist makes it clear that he was
currently participating in the banquet and would continue to enjoy “dwelling” with the Lord in the future, even forever.
This Lord who
is our Host, is Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God, who has been revealed in
the person of the Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-18)
and he is the one who has gone to Heaven to prepare a place for us and will
come back for us one day and take us to the table he has prepared (John 14:1-3).
In being the Lord our Host, God in Christ by the Spirit
invites us into the Trinitarian community where we find protection, honor,
refreshing, and justice that remains. But what does this mean for those of us
who follow such a Shepherd and worship such a Host? When followers of the Way
were first called Christians it was intended in a derogatory sense (Acts 11:26)
but accurately described their commitment to live as “little Christs” determined to do
what Jesus had done. Early Christian hospitality and care for the poor are
renowned as they provided food, shelter, and medical care while working for justice for all whom they met even when there was no Motel 6 leaving the light on
for them. They were givers more than takers, despite living under the often
brutal persecution of the Roman Empire. Could John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I say
to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and
greater works than these will he do because I am going to the Father” have
applied to hospitality? I think so.
So how do we become better hosts in today’s world? What will
we risk? Whom will we protect and provision and send on their way and who will
we allow to heal and help in our midst? Do we only open our homes and our lives
to those who agree with us, look like us, and provide us some benefit? Or do we
take Jesus’ words to heart, loving even our enemy for the sake of Christ?
How can those who don’t know the love of the Good Shepherd and
Host learn about it and respond if not to that love as seen in us and extended to
them? How will they know the welcome of the Divine community if not embraced by the
outposts of such community here on earth? In what ways should we welcome the
beggar at our gate? I think we have a lot of reflection, thinking, and work to
do.
Is not the best diplomacy that of shared life and the
honest and unguarded table? Will those who are open get burned in the process? Probably,
but a better question to ask is, will those whose minds and gates are closed to
the alien miss out on what God is doing? Absolutely.
This week we set aside a day to give thanks for what we have received from the Lord our Host. I have to confess that while I am often timid
I am learning to open my eyes to the wonder of relational hospitality. In fact,
I wonder what the Lord will do in our midst in the year to come. But first, I
have to come into his midst by grace through the Word and the Spirit. Let’s encourage each other in this adventure!
“And
let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not
neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one
another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews
10:24-25)
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