The Laden Table

Psalm 23:5 – You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (NIV)

As I read this verse from Psalm 23, I pull up my chair to this special table and relax. Here, I can let go. Even though my worries are all around me, they cannot come close. Sigh! I wish I could stay here. I am safe at this table, prepared by my Lord. He has provided all I need.

The dining table is a symbol of togetherness and replenishment. It appears several times in Scripture and always has the effect of gathering people together. Here, something special happens. On every festive day, the family gathers around a table. The talk is fast and free, catching up with each other, and the atmosphere is loving and renewing. There is a laden table and much sharing of love.

When I was a child growing up in Bermuda, our dining room table was the central focus of our family. Once a day, usually at lunch — which back then was the main meal — we had family worship. This meant getting down on our knees at our chair, listening to Dad as he prayed. As we grew up, Dad would let us share in the family prayer. That was what bound us together as a family.

I have often thought that actually having Jesus sitting at our table would be a moment never to be forgotten. I would have loved being in on that wonderful evening after Jesus' resurrection when He sat down at the table in Emmaus. After the long day's walk, the disciples were tired and hungry. "When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them." (Luke 24:30 NIV) They recognized that action; it was Jesus Himself, the risen Lord. They knew Him!

The table of the Lord is laden with all we need to continue on life's journey. Here, our cup overflows. Thank You, Lord!

Prayer: Lord, we thank You for these moments at Your table of refreshment, where You revive us for life's journey. We thank You for all the provisions You have given us, both physical and spiritual. We also thank You for those who have sat with us through the years and who are now with You. Thank You, Lord, for these moments of respite from our worries. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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