Behold! I have prepared a table before you, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye
Psalm 23:5 – Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
David was a great poet. This was however not just a poem, it tells of his life experiences as a Shepherd and an individual.
As a shepherd, he like a good Shepherd does in Israel, would normally have taken his father’s sheep to a table land or plateau. A land that is levelled filled with luscious grass, where there are not yellow plants and poisonous weeds, a place where water is nearby, etc. At such a place, the sheep will be able to eat and rest properly.
As a person, God actually spread a table before David to enjoy in the presence of his enemies. He was singled out for unprecedented favour among his older brothers; and despite all the opposition against him, he still enjoyed the exceptional favours of God.
It can be seen that a table is not just a piece of furniture. In today’s context, a prepared table can be seen as a dinner, a meal or a banquet. Spiritually, it can be seen as favours, blessings, opportunities, open doors, grace, etc.
We all love spread tables. I love attending them too. Banquets, dinners and buffets are all my delight whenever I’m able to be there. At such places, the sight of the food would have satisfied my hunger. The days we usually have such luncheon in church are amongst my best meeting times, not that I will eat a lot, I just enjoy the atmosphere and how the food table is spread.
At such events, there is usually much fun, happiness, friendship, togetherness and bonding. The bible makes us to know that God commands His blessings in such an atmosphere (Psalm 133:1-3).
The people of Israel love prepared tables. All of their meals are spread. Everything will be there. I wonder where it comes from since they are in the desert. But guess what, next meal the table is spread again.
Our Lord Jesus as a Jew attended many of such in the short time He spent here on earth. From the wedding in Cana of Galilee in John 2; to the house of a chief Pharisee in Luke 14; at the house of Simon the leper in Mt. 26; at the home of Lazarus and his sisters in Luke 10; etc.
John the Baptist didn’t eat, thank God Jesus ate. We can eat too, only not to live by bread alone.
Can God prepare a table for His people?
Psalms 78:18-20 – And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people?
David re-visited the act of the children of Israel in the desert as they journeyed to the Promised Land. God began to feed the people with manna from heaven. But the Israelites said they preferred meat. They began to murmur and grumble against Moses and against God. So God said, by tomorrow He will give them meat.
Moses could not understand what he heard, where will he get the meat to feed about 2 million people in the wilderness? God however said he should go and inform the people.
Understandably, the people could not believe too, they would have questioned how God will be able to spread a table with meat in the wilderness. But it happened! They became sick from eating meat (Num. 11:1-34).
God has asked me to tell some people here this morning that He has prepared a table before you. He said you have logically thought of something and your conclusion is that it can’t be possible. God says, He will do it, even quicker than you think.
I began to think, supposing the prepared table was placed behind David, I discovered that he would have only smelt it and not eat of it. I asked again, supposing the table is just beside David, again I figured out that he would have only seen it but won’t eat of it. Then I understand why God made sure that the table was prepared before David.
While I was in the secondary school, we cook for ourselves. I had some friends then who had what we called ‘freezer’ or ‘cooler’ in their mouths. No matter how hot the food was, they will put it in their mouth while some of us are still blowing it in our spoons. When such people come around while we were cooking, we would keep the cooked food and pretend to go for studying, only to sneak back and eat it behind them.
Tables that you are supposed to be part of will not be eaten behind you in Jesus name. Your spread will not be hidden from you. May be you have heard that a table is been prepared for you, you will see it with your eyes and you will partake of it in Jesus name.
So I said to myself, when David saw the well prepared table, he was just supposed to be eating. While does he need to be anointed? The answer I got is that it is not everybody that has food spread in their front them are able to eat, especially if it’s in the presence of their enemies like that of David.
As a child, one of the times I felt sorry for myself was whenever I was poorly. At those times, even though money might be short at home, my parents will have to buy beverages, milk, eggs, bread, lucozade drink, etc. so I could recover quickly. Though these are things I would normally would have devoured quickly, but for lack of appetite, they would have to beg me to be able to eat a little.
I pray for you, may the anointing to eat your divinely prepared table come upon you today.
It was that anointing that kept David in the rough terrain while running away from Saul for 13 years; it was the anointing that empowers him to kill Goliath; it was the anointing that helped him to kill 1000 Philistines in order to pay his dowry to marry King Saul’s daughter.
That anointing will rest upon you in Jesus name.
Every power chasing you away from your prepared table is hereby judged by the power of the Holy Ghost. Every obstacle blocking your way to sit before your table is hereby removed.
Every trap surrounding your prepared table is hereby broken in Jesus name.
It’s one thing to have a table prepared before one; it’s another thing to know that such a prepared table does exist for one’s enjoyment.
Psalm 49:20
Man that is in honour and understands it not, is like the animal that perishes.
Esau was privilege to have a table prepared before him. One of the twins born by Rebekah, he and his brother struggled to see who will be the heir in their family. Esau happened to come out first with Jacob holding on to Esau’s heels. Later in life, Esau sold that special favour for a bowl of pottage! May you not be ignorant of the table that has been set before you in Jesus name.
You will not sell your table to anyone else. May the pressures of today not make you lose a lifetime of favour in Jesus name.
For someone here, the Spirit of God says I should tell you that everything is ready. He said you will understand what He means by “All things are ready”.
What can make someone not to enjoy a prepared table?
Two things: Unwillingness and disobedience.
Isaiah 1:19-20
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
There are many people that lost their favours because of unwillingness and/or disobedience in the scripture. Adam and Eve because of disobedience, king Saul because of disobedience. Gehazi was unwilling, just like Judas Iscariot was equally unwilling to wait and eat what has been provided for them. What will be your reaction to the table prepared before you? Will you be observant and patient enough to enjoy it or will you turn your back on it die to an unwilling attitude or disobedience?
Special word
Something very special was to enter your hand, but it slipped away. God says He will show you mercy and bring it back. Peter saw the vision of the great sheet thrice in Acts 10:9-16.
Prayers
As The Lord God lives, I will not be lacking in any good thing.
As The Lord God lives, I will be settled in green pastures
As The Lord God lives, no water or flood of life shall trouble my soul.
As Jehovah lives, I will always follow the path of righteousness.
Throughout the days of my life, the rod and the staff of God shall comfort me.
May the special table from God always be before me, even in the presence of my enemies.
May my head never lack the anointing of God.
May the goodness and mercy of God always follow me all the days of my life.
May I dwell in the tabernacle of God all my life.
Behold! I have prepared a table before you, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was a sermon delivered on January 25, 2015 Anointing Service.