Kept and fed by the power of God

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies . . .” (Psalm 23:5)

Shepherds of the ancient world took great care in selecting a ‘table’ where their sheep could safely eat. They were aware that an entire flock could be destroyed because of poisonous plants or other dangers. Vipers hid in holes and bit the sheep’s noses as they grazed. These snakes had to be lured out and killed. Also, wolves and jackals and other beasts hid in caves near feeding areas. The Shepherd had to confront these predators and use his knife to destroy them.

David knew about these enemies of the sheep. He wanted to fight Goliath, an enemy of Israel, and told Saul of how God helped him . . .  

And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (1 Samuel 17:37)

These protective actions of a shepherd illustrate the protective actions of God for His sheep. We are helpless and often ignorant of the dangers, finding out the hard way that we need God to protect us.

Peter found out. He denied the Lord even after great insistence that he would never do that. He was helpless and that failure showed him how weak he was, and how much he needed the keeping power of the Great Shepherd. He said . . .

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:3–7)

I think of Peter and how he felt after that denial. I know my own stumbling and failures to follow Jesus, and the trials that hammer at me. But I also know that Jesus promised to keep me, just as He kept Peter. My failures will not result in my perishing because the Shepherd is looking out for me.

Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27–30)

As for being well-fed, I rejoice each day as He takes me to the spiritual food needed to keep me alive and well in Him. He also prays for me as He said He would. “For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.” (John 17:8–9)

The promise Jesus made is both valid and valuable; He keeps His sheep. He prepares a table before us just as He prayed, “ . . . I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world . . . . Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.” (John 17:11–12)

I picture myself as a ditzy sheep coming to the Bible without a clue what or where to find my daily bread. But Jesus has gone before me, preparing a ‘table’ so that the words I read for each day are a feast for my soul, a needed nourishment to keep me healthy in Spirit. My enemies are all around me, and unlike sheep, I am aware of their power and intent. Yet instead of being terrified by what could happen, I feed on the Word of God in contentment and joy, knowing my Shepherd has brought me to this table.

God’s keeping and restoring power

Even as a new Christian, I had a burden for those who became Christians but wandered away. Sometimes it seemed they neglected spiritual disciplines (like fellowship and reading the Bible), but I’ve learned that God can draw us near even when we are not predisposed to discipline. Others fell away after some thoughtless treatment from people who call themselves Christians. Whatever their reasons, many of the names on my prayer list are people that started well, but are not continuing, at least not at the moment.

A book about prodigals says that nearly every Christian experiences a time of backsliding. We reach a place where it seems we cannot do anything right, get discouraged and quit trying. Or we are mistreated or let down by someone we expected to do better, then in pain and anger walk away. The book said that this is never the end of the story. It used verses like…

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24)

It is God who does the saving. Our part in obedience and spiritual discipline is important, but these are responses to what He is doing in us, not the means of our salvation.

Besides that, I know that some who seem to begin well are not really in the family of God. False teachers fall into that category, as do those whose hope is based on something other than Jesus Christ. Faith is about Him, not church attendance, money given, or living a good life. Eventually, all else fails except the keeping power of God. He may allow some to wander away that they might learn that they cannot save themselves.

Today’s devotional reading is about God’s keeping power and Judas. This man walked with Jesus and was counted among the disciples. However, he was more interested in lining his pockets than in godliness. His heart was not right so he was open to Satan. Besides, the Old Testament prophesied that one close to the Messiah would betray him. Judas was it.

And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. (John 17:11–12)

Of all the people in history that I would not want to be, Judas is at the top of the list. He had no desire to be loyal to Jesus or to follow the ways of God. He betrayed the only One who could have saved him from his sin, but he wasn’t interested. Eventually, the liar Satan led him to destruction and his name became associated with treachery.

Notice that Jesus speaks of keeping all who followed Him but this one man, Judas. Notice also the reason that Judas was lost. It was not that Jesus failed to keep him, but that this sinner and his sin fit into the plan of God. Considering that we all are sinners, God could have used any of the disciples to fulfill Scripture. Apart from the love and mercy of God, He is not obligated to save any of us either. That He promises to do so is amazing in itself, never mind that He promises to keep us in His name when we sin and disobey Him, even when we wander for days, months, years.

My burden for the wanderers can focus on the sinfulness of humanity and become discouraged. Who can possibly be brought back? But when I focus on the power of the Gospel and the plan of God, I rejoice. He is able to save to the uttermost. What He does with His own in their wandering is none of my business, except to pray for them as Jesus prays for them. He will bring them back in His time, and even if nothing much happens that I can see, I must trust His promise that all who belong to Him will be made complete when He returns.