Our pastor did a sermon on Psalm 23 a few weeks ago and he said something that I’ve been really turning over in my mind ever since.
“The hallmark of the human race is that we prepare a table for ourselves.”
There is truth in that comment, more than I’d like to admit, but even more than truth there is a valuable lesson.
Psalm 23 is familiar–especially if you grew up in church. So familiar you may even take it for granted, roll your eyes a little and say ‘oh that one. Its for little kids to say in Sunday school or at bed time. It’s not for me. I’m learning about Levitical law now because I’m a grown up.”
I have nothing against Levitical law, but there is definitely more to Psalm 23 than a bedtime prayer. Like when you grow up and realize “Ring Around the Rosies” is actually about Bubonic Plague. There is MORE to it. Words are Powerful, so God’s WORD will ALWAYS have something more to say.
And here is where my insight begins.
Psalm 23 has awesome verbage.
He MAKES me…
He LEADS me…He REFRESHES my…
He GUIDES me…
I am not meant to do the hard work here. The only action verb really attribute to me is “walk”, “not fear” and “dwell”–far less controlling than the action on the part of the Lord.
You PREPARE…
You ANOINT…
We want so badly to be in control of our own lives. To what end? For comfort? For protection?
How ironic. We want control for the same things relinquishing control to God will give us.
And if you think about it. I mean truly think about it. Who is better equipped to prepare a table before your enemies anyway? The creator of the universe…or you?
