God's Prescription For My Enemies
Psalm 23 • Sermon • Submitted
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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
When we find ourselves surrounded by our enemies, it’s often difficult to know how to respond. Do I ignore them? Do I run from them? Do I hide from them? Do I retaliate?
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
The author of the Psalm, David, had been a shepherd, but he was also a king, who was expected to be a gracious host. So as David writes these words, it is reasonable for him to think of God as both a shepherd and a king/host.
When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”
But deal loyally with the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for with such loyalty they met me when I fled from Absalom your brother.
God’s path will never lead me where the grace of God will not preserve me.
HOW TO LET GOD’S GRACE PRESERVE ME
1. Have the right expectations
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor 12:9
It is okay to ask God to remove the difficulty or to defeat our enemies. But we ought to pray that way understanding that in many cases God isn’t going do that...
If I want God’s grace to preserve me, it begins with having the right expectations
HOW TO LET GOD’S GRACE PRESERVE ME
1. Have the right expectations
2. Develop an attitude of gratitude
1 Thess 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
He didn’t really care how full or empty his glass was because he always had a pitcher of God’s grace available to him from which God could always fill his glass until it overflowed.
...you need to develop an attitude of gratitude because God’s grace is available to you to fill that glass to overflowing.
HOW TO LET GOD’S GRACE PRESERVE ME
1. Have the right expectations
2. Develop an attitude of gratitude
3. Spend my time feasting with Jesus, not fighting my foes
Prepare: To arrange, to order
1. Have the right expectations
Why settle for a microwave meal when you can have a gourmet feast?
2. Develop an attitude of gratitude
God’s path will never lead me where the grace of God will not preserve me.