The 23rd Psalm has always been one of my favourites, with its powerful picture of God's care and protection for those he loves. Recently though, I've been challenged to rethink verse 5a, where we read "You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies". The psalmist seems to envisage a situation where God serves a meal to him whilst his enemies look on, but are unable to harm him. There may even be a suggestion that the enemies have been defeated and captured by God and now, bound and gagged, they are forced to look on, humiliated, as God vindicates the psalmist once and for all. This is probably the kind of picture the writer had in mind and you can see how it would be an encouragement to an individual or tribe or nation suffering persecution.
But how does this sit with the teaching of Jesus and the apostles about how christians are to relate to their enemies?
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. Matthew 5.44-45
No, if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12.20-21
I've been challenged by verses like these to see that in a Christian version of Psalm 23, when God is feeding us "in the presence of my enemies", our enemies are not cowering in handcuffs but sitting at the table alongside us. What do others think?
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