“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…” (Psalms 23:5a)

In the earlier devotion, “The Sovereign, My God, By Design, Part VI” – the verb “preparest,” or the “What,” the action, was identified; as well as the noun “table,” or the “Where” the action was identified; and finally the “Who” received the action, or the direct object of the action, “before me” was presented.

However now, David writes before Whom the action was perceived by “me” (or by David) – “mine enemies.” It is one matter to know a spiritual truth. But it is a greater revelation to have truth that belongs to you, a Sheep of God, being manifested before your enemies.

There are two things at work here to reassure and give confidence to the Sheep of God’s Provision and Protection as the Shepherd of the Sheep. It is a further explanation of the phrase, “I shall not want”:

• The Supply is there;
• This Supply of Power and Protection is known by the Sheep, and by the Sheep’s enemies.

The sheep have enemies, or predators, that attack from time to time, such as the wolf, or the thief; as described by the Apostle John in John 10:10a, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”

But Christ said:

“…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (12) But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.” (John 10:10b-12)

The Sheep have only one Hope; that is “The Shepherd,” His Preparation and His Supply. The Shepherd is the only one who loves the Sheep, and is the Protector and Provision of the Sheep – it is certainly not the “hireling.”

In the Spiritual plane, the thief brings death – but the Shepherd brings life (Eternal Life). (See John 10:11-18, 25-30.)

In the physical sense, the same Shepherd (the LORD, Jehovah) that chose, called, and converted His Sheep (according to His Eternal Purpose; Ephesians 1:4-11); defeated the enemy on the Cross – the devil, the thief, the hireling.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” (Hebrews 2:14)

He did this to reveal that He is God; and He alone is God.

On the basis (or foundation) of His Atonement on the Cross, He has given Eternal Life through the experience of Regeneration and Conversion to His Sheep at His appointed time. (See 1 John 3:24; 5:20.)

When this process happens, Christ, the Shepherd, comes to dwell (or abide) in the Regenerated person. Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 3:16, that the Regenerated People are His Temple. (Read Romans 8:14-16; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; etc.)

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

Christ’s Temple is not a building. But it is a person whom He has chosen, justified, called, and glorified (Romans 8:29-30); that is, a Regenerated person.

Now, the Regenerated person has all Power dwelling in him. He now is a Possessor of Faith, or Christ; for Christ is The Faith (Galatians 2:20). Therefore, the Regenerated person can perceive spiritual things by the Holy Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:9-16); for he now has the mind of Christ.

“But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.” (1 John 2:20)

“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” (1 John 2:27)

With this Power to perceive Truth, he now has the road map of success in his daily life:

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (9) Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:8-9)

He now knows who he is in Christ, a son of God (Romans 8:15). He now knows he possesses the Power in the Victory of the Lamb of God (1 John 5:4). He knows he was co-crucified with Christ; co-buried with Christ; and now, co-raised to walk in the Newness of Life (Romans 6:4-22).

Therefore, knowing who God is (His Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior; his Shield, Buckler, Hightower, and Refuge); and knowing he is a Sheep in the Fold of God – then nothing can separate him from the Love of God. (Read Psalms 121:1-6; Hebrews 13:5c).

See John 10:27-30:

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (28) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (29) My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. (30) I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)

And Romans 8:35-39:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (36) As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. (37) Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. (38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, (39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:35-39)

 Therefore, no enemy has power over the Regenerated, Christ-indwelt, Child of God; one who is walking in the Spirit, living in the Spirit, and being led of the Spirit (Galatians 5:16, 18, 25). The Regenerated Sheep of God knows:

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

Upon the basis of the Resurrection of Christ, all enemies of the Cross know now they could not stop Christ, who has all Power over death, hell, and the grave. Then, the ones in whom Christ dwells, have also all Power in heaven and in earth dwelling in them. And they cannot be stopped, defeated, or destroyed by the enemies of the Cross.

The “table” is full of Power; based upon who the Shepherd is, and upon His Preparation for His Sheep:

“Thou (my Shepherd; the LORD; Jehovah) preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies…”

Now the Regenerated Sheep knows who he is in Christ; and the Victory that Christ secured in His Atonement. And now the enemy knows of the Sheep’s Power and Protection in the Shepherd of the Sheep. (Amen and Amen!)

Oh, the Supply of the Shepherd! (Hallelujah!)

What peace and rest (security and confidence) to know by experience the Supply of Power, Provision, and Protection given by the Shepherd to His Sheep!

This knowledge by experience allows David, and all Regenerated Sheep to say:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”