Kept safe in a very dangerous place

I read through the Bible every year using a guide generated by a software program. The reading for today included Matthew 4. Then I opened my devotional booklet and the reading for today is Matthew 4:1-10. Like Gibbs on NCIS, I do not believe in coincidences. God has something vital to say to me from this passage.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” (Matthew 4:1–10)

The first thing I notice is that this temptation was part of God’s plan. The Spirit led Jesus to a lonely place where He would experience it. Oh my . . .

Last night I woke up around 3:30 and spent the next few hours in the wilderness. My husband is on the other side of the world. With that plus several other circumstances, I felt alone, even abandoned to the point of physical pain. It was horrible. At that time, I could not ‘call a friend’ or do anything to fix the problem. I did pick up a novel, but first spent some time in the Bible and in prayer.

As I read this passage this morning, I noticed three characteristics of these temptations that I’d not noticed before. In His hunger, Satan tried to move Jesus to rely on something else instead of the Word of God to help His with His hunger. I realized how strong Satan tempted me to escape into my novel and not bother at all with Scripture and prayer. However, I knew that I needed words from God, not words from David Baldacci.

In the second temptation, Satan suggested that Jesus take matters into His own hands and test God. I thought of taking matters into my own hands, and even that relying on Christian friends would be far better than reading a novel. However, at that time in the night, I doubt if any of my friends would be ready to jump up and come over to hold my hand. I was on my own, or at least felt like it. Instead of trying to fix this by myself, I began saying God’s promise, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” While it did not change my emotions, this did change how I was thinking.

Third, the devil tried to get Jesus to put something above obedience to God and above worshiping God. Jesus didn’t fall for that either. Instead He quoted Scripture again. I remembered a few verses and also began singing praise choruses. I’m not a great singer and the horrible emptiness was still there, but eventually fell back to sleep. My alarm rang about an hour later.

The first thing I noticed was that I was in a new place, not in that wilderness with the tempter trying to turn me into a faithless, self-sufficient atheist, but at peace and ready to get up. I might need a nap later, but verse 11 says, “Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.” (Matthew 4:11)

I say, Praise God and amen.

Feasting at the Shepherd’s Table

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

Some say that the psalmist changes here to another metaphor, from a shepherd to a host at a banquet. Therefore this verse refers to the various feasts that point to the marriage supper described in the book of Revelation. “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” (Revelation 19:6–9)

Others say no, this is still the metaphor of the shepherd. They say David is thinking about the high places or tablelands where the shepherd takes his flock to graze, protecting them from any wild animals or other dangers as they enjoy security and the clime of such pastures.

This signifies the loving care of God, our Shepherd who says, “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you . . . (Jeremiah 31:1–4)

Unsure of either view, I did a little research on that Hebrew word for ‘table’ and discovered that it is an odd one, not used in many places, but the significant reference was in Ezekiel where it refers to the tables where the sacrifices were killed. “. . . in the vestibule of the gate were two tables on either side, on which the burnt offering and the sin offering and the guilt offering were to be slaughtered. And off to the side, on the outside as one goes up to the entrance of the north gate, were two tables; and off to the other side of the vestibule of the gate were two tables. Four tables were on either side of the gate, eight tables, on which to slaughter . . . . on which the instruments were to be laid with which the burnt offerings and the sacrifices were slaughtered . . . . And on the tables the flesh of the offering was to be laid.” (Ezekiel 40:38–43)

Maybe David was thinking about those tables, and if he was, then his words pointed to the sacrifice of Christ, prepared before me in the presence of my enemies — for the salvation of my soul.

One other use of ‘table’ also is for a different part of the temple, the Table of Incense. “The doorposts of the nave were squared, and in front of the Holy Place was something resembling an altar of wood, three cubits high, two cubits long, and two cubits broad. Its corners, its base, and its walls were of wood. He said to me, ‘This is the table that is before the Lord.’” (Ezekiel 41:21–22)

Incense is about prayer so this table represents the place of prayer, where praise, petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving were offered to God. For me, this strikes home. It describes the table prepared in the presence of my enemies where God meets with me and where I feast on His presence and enjoy His loving care and fellowship.

In the richness of this metaphor, it must also be noted that those tables of sacrifice were originally used for sheep. Eventually the Lamb of God died there, but still God asks His lambs to put to death anything that threatens our fellowship, all sin and selfishness.

One day, at that glorious marriage supper, there will be no threats. Sin will be eradicated and all threats defeated. Yet right now, the table is prepared in the presence of my enemies. For that, I need to feast very close to my protecting Shepherd.