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"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (Psalm 23:5a).
Sheep have many enemies. Predators, thieves, poisonous plants, and treacherous terrain — all of these things pose real dangers to sheep. A good shepherd works diligently to eliminate these threats so that his flock can be safe as they fill their bellies in green pastures.
What about us? Of whom does David speak when he says that God prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies?
We tend to think of enemies as other people in our lives. Certainly we each struggle with difficult people. When sinners live together in community, there is going to be conflict, resulting in pain and fractured relationships. But the truth is that other people are not our enemies. They are ones for whom Christ also died, and that is how He desires for us to view them: with love and forgiveness, always praying for those with whom we struggle the most.
So is our enemy Satan? He is a prowling lion who seeks to devour God’s sheep, but he is a defeated enemy. Satan can’t harm us. Jesus’ death on the cross crushed that serpent’s head, and now “one little word can fell him.” When he seeks to tempt and distract us from the truth, we respond, “Liar… I belong to Jesus Christ, and you have no control over me!”
Does that make our enemy death? Not any longer. Jesus rose from the dead and conquered that enemy for us. Death has lost its sting, and we have nothing to fear. Just as Christ was raised from the dead, so too will you and I be raised on the Last Day to live with Him eternally in the restored creation!
Who does that leave as our enemy? There is a famous phrase that has been attributed to many people across history. “I’m my own worst enemy.” Our sins have been forgiven, and we were made righteous in the waters of our Baptism, but our old Adam continues to raise his ugly head. It is our sinful nature that turns us in on ourselves and away from fixing our eyes on Christ. Our true struggle comes as we battle against anger, greed, lust, pride, envy, and so much more.
But our Good Shepherd does not leave us to face this enemy alone. He doesn’t tell us, “I washed you clean in your Baptism, now good luck. You take it from here.” No, He prepares a table before us in the presence of all of our enemies, even our biggest enemy — self.
When Christ invites us to the table at the Lord’s Supper, He gives us His very body and His blood. The words we hear — given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins — are a promise. We walk up to His table as weak and helpless as sheep, acknowledging that we cannot defeat sin on our own. We leave renewed and refreshed, once again receiving the good gifts of the Holy Spirit and the forgiveness of our sins.
Sheep who are tended by a good shepherd graze in peace on the tables that have been carefully prepared for them, with no fear of enemies. Neither do we have enemies to fear. Our Good Shepherd has declared victory over each one on our behalf and invites us to feast with Him at the table He has prepared for us.
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