"You Prepare A Table Before Me ...." Psalm 23:5!

While we contemplate these words of David, it's good to keep in mind that the sheep are approaching the high mountain terrain of the late spring and summer ranges! These areas are called "tablelands." A tableland is defined as, "A relatively flat highland having steep walls." In other words, what David referred to as a table was in reality the high summer ranges for sheep! Keep in mind, David is not speaking as a king, but he's speaking to us as a sheep under the care and management of a shepherd. As sisters and brothers in Christ, the Father God wants to bring us into a bold, new appreciation of His care, concern, and management of us. The Father God wants us to recognize the quality and significance of His care and concern for us. The Father God wants us to recognize with gratitude, His care and intimate concern for His sheep! Praise God forevermore! I don't know about you, but knowing this about the Father God is reason to shout hallelujah! That's what this Psalm is all about! Just before the sheep arrive, the shepherd goes on ahead to this tableland to make preparations for the sheep. His care of the tableland is detailed and precise, because he wants his sheep to have the best land possible. For his sheep to survive and thrive, it simply had to be done. The parallel for the Christ follower is clear. Our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ, has Himself already gone before us into every situation and circumstance that we may encounter. The Word of God tells us that Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are. Jesus entered fully and intimately into humanity when He was born into this world! Because of this, the Lord understands us. He has, therefore, a care and compassion for you and me beyond our ability to totally comprehend. Our Lord Jesus makes every conceivable provision to insure that whenever we have to deal with sin, our sin nature, or the devil, the contest will not be one-sided! When we understand and embrace these things, we'll have assurance in His care of us. In this way, our relationship with the Lord becomes a tableland experience because we know that we're in the excellent care and control of our Shepherd, Jesus Christ! A word of caution: Just because the shepherd has gone ahead and made every possible provision for the safety and welfare of the sheep on the tableland, does not mean the sheep will be problem free there. Poisonous plants still grow, predators still attack, and storms still come. But the good news is "though hard times will always be there, so will Jesus Christ!" When these things occur, don't fret or panic, just look up to find your Shepherd! Once you've discovered that He'll never leave you nor forsake you, simply go back to feeding and enjoying the tableland! Your move. Be encouraged!