Daily Manna · Day 240 · August 28
A Table in the Presence of Enemies
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
The pressure has not lifted in months, and you have begun to notice that you keep waiting for it to lift.
So take the furniture of Psalm 23 and pray it back to God. Today's verse is a table that has been set, and it is set at what feels like the wrong time.
Lord, Your word says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." I would rather You cleared the room first. The person who dislikes me still has their job, and the date on the letter has not moved. Yet You have not asked me to wait until they are gone. You set the food down while they are still watching.
"Thou anointest my head with oil." That is what a host did for a guest at the door. It was the ordinary kindness of being welcomed, and not just put up with. I have been living as though You only put up with me.
"My cup runneth over." It is more than filled to a sensible level. It spills over the rim and onto the table, in front of people who would like to watch me break.
So teach me to eat. I have been putting off the meal, the hour with my children and a good night's sleep. I have been waiting until things are sorted out, as though taking anything from You before then would be too early.
And bring me back to where this psalm ends, because the pressure will very likely still be here tomorrow. The enemies are still at the edge of the picture in verse five. In verse six, though, the ones following me are goodness and mercy: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." You did not promise that the room would empty. You promised the table, and You promised that Your goodness and mercy would follow me all the way home. Amen.
Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year two reading for day 240 is Crying for Milk (1 Peter 2:2).