• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Connect
    • Tuesday Together
  • Encourage
    • Rule of Life
    • Lectio Divina
    • Personal Year-end Examen
    • Reading Recommendations
  • Prepare
    • Leadership Training
    • LSM Facilitator Resources
  • Formation Zoé
Lifesprings International Ministries

Lifesprings International Ministries

Encouraging, preparing, and connecting women to impact their communities with the love of God.

  • Home
  • Contact
  • Give
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Psalm 23:5

August 31, 2021 by Ezers Leave a Comment

Listen:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5 NIV)

Reflect:

There is a group called PeaceMeals in Melbourne, Australia that brings together totalstrangers, many of whom are recent immigrants, for a shared meal at a common table. 

They believe that once we’ve shared a meal together, we’re not strangers anymore. This is a form of peacemaking, because getting to know someone outside our people groups breaks down stereotypes.

Table fellowship is an invitation to resolve conflict and bring reconciliation, peace, and joy. My husband and I “had words” over a stressful car situation. Two of our cars are down with parts on indefinite backorder and our third vehicle is an old, abysmal truck but at least it works. Over dinner, we talked through timelines, scenarios, and money. We’re working through our conflict.

Psalm 23:5 invites us to imagine that the God of the universe has invited you to a glitteringdinner party. Sumptuous food is served family style for all to share. Then you notice who God has invited to the meal. Those relatives, friends and others, near and far, who you’ve been estranged from, disparaged or can’t tolerate.

Most commentators suggest that Psalm 23:5 is a banquet of vindication. But perhaps God is inviting us to a banquet of reconciliation. Jesus modeled this for us at his Last Supper, when he washed Judas’ feet. When we are reconciled with someone who we have considered an enemy, we receive an anointing of God’s oil of gladness. There’s no reason to wait for that heavenly banquet, because the oil of gladness awaits us here on earth.

Questions to Ponder:

Is there someone with whom God is inviting you to reconcile and make peace?

What do you need from God to make this happen?

Prayer of Response:

Gracious God, help me to be a peacemaker through table fellowship, just like Jesus Christ. Amen.

—Submitted by Libby Rutherford
Libby is a longtime member of Lifesprings. She’s married to Jay, mom to John and Sarah, grandmother to Malcolm, and has two cats and 17 chickens. She pastors two rural churches and lives in Apple River, IL.

Category iconUncategorized

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise
  • Celebrating Fall with Thanksgiving and Praise

Archives

  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Give
Give via Check in the U.S.

 

Make check out to:
 Faith and Learning International

IMPORTANT, please write:
LIFESPRINGS GENERAL FUND in the MEMO line

Mail to:
Faith and Learning International
PO Box 480
Wheaton, IL 60187-0480

To give by bank transfer in Euros:

 

IBAN: FR76 1009 6180 4100 0576 2590 144
Account: 00057625901
Bank: CIC FERNEY VOLTAIRE 10096
BIC: CMCIFRPP

Association name: Lifesprings France
Bank: CIC FERNEY VOLTAIRE
Address: 1 Avenue Voltaire
01210 Ferney Voltaire, FRANCE

Phone: +33 8 20 30 05 83