David, I think I have a better idea...
So the juxtaposition of listening to Walk with Me (which is based on Psalm 23) by Caedmon's Call and a rather amusing conversation with Tanner (short version: he's extroverted; I'm not--this is fine) has led me to a bit of a humorous revelation about Psalm 23. :)
I'm good with the whole thing...that whole valley of the shadow of death thing kinda bites, but I get that it happens...and then you get to verse 5. I don't feel like looking it up, but it's something like, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
So, I just have to ask, why exactly do I want to have a dinner party with my enemies there? Let's even suppose that they're watching and have to shut up and don't get to participate. Does anyone else feel like this would be an insanely awkward and somewhat embarrassing situation? Me personally: I'd be completely content with just not seeing my enemies ever again. :) In fact, my ideal ending would be to go back to those green pastures and quiet waters from verse 2, bring a few people (accent on "a few") and chill out.
David was clearly more of an extrovert than I am. ;) Ah well.
Posted by Luke at 4:00 p.m.
It's cultural. The Bible is riddled with references to banquets, places of honor, etc.
I think the use of "enemies" is perhaps a bit strong. I think it makes more sense to think of a work banquet in which the boss singles you out for commendation in the presence of your coworkers.
s/boss/king/
s/coworkers/enemies/
Also, since God is the ultimate king, and his banquet including pretty much everyone on earth, your enemies would be at the banquet.
Of course, this is part of why I have problems with Biblical literalism. I have to do an awful lot of "interpretation" to get the meaning out of that verse. Otherwise, it's just plain ridiculous. As you point out, who would literally want to go to a banquet populated with one's enemies?
Posted by Tim on 2007.08.27 at 11:20 a.m.
One way of looking at it is this:
Because the Lord is my Shepherd (ruler and king), I will not want for anything I really need.
Specifically:
â–º He makes me lie down in green pastures. I'll not want for peaceful rest. Sheep don't have sense enough to know when they need to sleep, so the shepherd forces each sheep to lie down when He knows it is time for him to have rest.
â–º He leads me beside still waters. I'll not want for refreshment. Sheep won't drink from a running stream, so the Palestinian shepherd would take stones and dam up a quiet place for the sheep to drink.
â–º He restores my soul. Because Christ is my Shepherd and I am His sheep, I'll not want for forgiveness.
â–ºHe leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Because Christ is my Shepherd and I am His sheep, He will guide me and go before me and take me to the place of His choosing, that I might become one whose character is pleasing to Him. I shall not want for direction for my life.
â–º Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Although our lives are overshadowed by the reality and the inevitability of death; nevertheless, we do not fear an evil end, for we belong to our Shepherd and He is always with us. He will keep us in His presence forever. I shall not want for courage and confidence.
â–º Thy Rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. The rod and staff symbolize vigilant protective care. Because my Shepherd is majestic and mighty--more powerful than any enemy, I will not want for comfort. It's not the sort of comfort we think of as encouraging words; it's the comfort we take in the knowledge that the strength and power of our shepherd will surely and effectively protect us from harm.
â–º Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Although my life is lived in the presence of those who are enemies of our Shepherd and therefore enemies of His sheep; nevertheless, God's protection is sure and His provision is sure. Since Christ is my Shepherd and I am His sheep, I'll not want for protection.
It's interesting that the imagery changes here. Sheep don't dine at table. The imagery here is of a kind and hospitable host. In the ancient Near East, a traveler who was offered the hospitality of a home (or a shepherd's tent) would receive not only shelter and food, but also a guarantee of protection by the host. So once a traveler was received into the shepherd's tent, and once his host had spread food before him, the traveler was guaranteed protection fro enemies who may have been trying to overtake him. A shocking example of this is given in Gen. 19, where Lot offered to deliver his two virgin daughters to the angry mob rather than violate his responsibility to protect the ones who had taken shelter with him. In pastoral circles, no human protection is greater than that afforded by the hospitality of a Bedouin chief.
This image pictures a more relational connection with the Shepherd than does the image of sheep and Shepherd.
â–º Thou anointest my head with oil. This could refer to God's protection (oil on the head protected the grazing sheep from deadly vipers), or it could refer to God's gracious gift of meaningful service. (A person commissioned to do a task would be anointed with oil as a sign of his election to that position.) If it is the latter, then we might say that I'll not want for significance in my labors.
â–ºMy cup runneth over. If Christ is my Shepherd and I am His sheep, I'll not want for abundant provision.
â–º Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. I'll not want for confidence in the future. The Lord shows unmerited goodness and love toward those who are His sheep, and His gracious abundance never fails.
Posted by loyalfriend on 2007.08.27 at 11:54 a.m.
I would usually find that embarrassing, too.
And, just to be picky, your Perl expressions are backwards.
Posted by Luke on 2007.08.27 at 12:09 p.m.
No they're not. I was referring to this sentence:
The regular expressions were meant to essentially translate it back to the original bible verse.
Posted by Tim on 2007.08.28 at 3:44 a.m.
I've always read "in the presence of mine [or 'my'] enemies" not as sharing a table with enemies, but as my enemies being forced to watch as I (or David, at least) am served/honored. But what Mrs. S. said about being protected by one's host might make more sense, especially since the passage speaks specifically of being offered food, as opposed to some other kind of honor.
Posted by Alan on 2007.08.28 at 4:52 a.m.
Perhaps David was just trying to eloquently say, "Let's just all get along, drink a lot of beer and make fun of France"?
Posted by Chris on 2007.08.28 at 6:14 p.m.
Post a Comment