Today, shepherds (and farmers in general) are regarded as essential, with responsibilities that far exceed simply looking after animals. However, in ancient times, shepherding was very common. It was not regarded as a particularly prestigious responsibility and was therefore often relegated to teenagers or the elderly.
An example is David, a youngest son, who is given the responsibility for looking after his family’s flock of sheep. He was not even considered when the rest of the family participated in some important events (1 Samuel 16:10-11; 17:12-15).
A shepherd-king
So it’s quite interesting that shepherding was also applied to leadership. In particular, kings were supposed to look after their people just like a shepherd looked after his sheep. This understanding did not just apply to Israel’s kings, but other nations adopted this up too. For instance, in Egypt, a common shepherd’s crook was used as a symbol of true rulership. The ruling monarch was to be a shepherd-king.
The idea of kingship or rulership is also found in Psalm 23. With verse 5, the scene shifts from an outdoor setting to an indoor banquet – rather like a king’s table in a palace which is incredibly lavish and laden with everything you could imagine – where no expense is spared.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Psalm 23:5
A banquet
Incredibly, God the Shepherd has “prepared,” arranged, or set in order a banquet before ME (and that means you too). And the intriguing thing is that God doesn’t do this in secret, but in public. In fact it’s right in front of my “enemies” – the things that seek to bind me, harass me, torture me, or bring me distress.
Here’s the picture: God, the shepherd-king “prepares” or “spreads out” a beautiful banquet for me, right in front of everything that seeks to “bind” or “suppress” me. There’s an intentional opposite here. Where enemies try to bring me into a “narrow” place, God “extends” or “spreads out” His amazing provision.
I remember a few years ago when reading this verse I felt the nudge of God saying “I’ve prepared a glorious table of provision before you Joy, but it’s up to you to whether you sit down and eat.” I was immediately challenged with a choice.
My encouragement for you would be, if you are feeling harassed or distressed, look for God’s banquet. Where is the table GOD has set before you? – be it peace, rest, restoration, comfort or another type of provision. Then make sure you avail yourself of what God has provided! It’s definitely there for you.
A battle
There is one more aspect of “prepared” in this verse that is worth taking note of. The word “prepared” is also used of preparation for battle. It’s the drawing up of battle lines; setting everything in order on the battlefield; of arranging weapons for the battle (eg. Jeremiah 46:3).
And yet, the battle never actually eventuates. The table of God’s glorious banquet IS the victory we need. The battle was won by Jesus on the cross – and it’s now up to us to choose to sit down at His table and participate in what He has already accomplished.
A choice
We will always face the temptation to focus on our “enemies,” or to fear abandonment in “the valley of the shadow of death” (as per a previous post). This is especially true when we begin to feel the oppression or harrassment our enemies would like to bring. But Psalm 23 never focuses on “enemies” or “the valley of the shadow of death” – it focuses on the Shepherd. It constantly draws our attention back to the Provider – our Shepherd-King.
Today, let’s make the choice to focus on our Shepherd. To look for His banquet, no matter what circumstances we face during the day. To not be distracted by any type of “enemy,” but to avail ourselves of everything our Shepherd has provided. It’s right there within reach.
