“在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席。” - 诗 23:5
你有没有参与过一个宴会或某个特别庆典、看到为盛典布置得美奂美仑的餐桌而发出惊叹？有时是因为装饰餐桌的“中心摆设”引起我们留意餐桌的美丽，然而餐桌本身往往就是庆典的中心摆设呢！
诗篇23篇常常能够支撑人渡过困难的时刻，这是有很多原因的。其中一个最令人鼓舞的场景，就是神会为我们摆设筵席。在出埃及记中，神给摩西的指示，有一句相似的话，它概要地说明会幕的装置中要包括一张按特别方式安放的桌子，要等到耶和华的“陈设饼”摆放在桌子上之后，桌子才算是布置妥当（出埃及记 25:30）。
然而，诗篇23篇中的筵席其实没有提到食物。在诗篇23篇中，神自己的同在便是食物，藉着一生一世都伴随着我们的神的“恩惠和慈爱”，我们已经尝到这陈设饼的滋味了。纵使有困难围绕我们，这个筵席已为我们摆设了。虽然不是一切都完美无瑕，然而，当我们行过死荫的幽谷、蒙神话语的杖和竿的教导和安慰时，我们便会到达一个与神同享筵席的地方了。这个筵席不是仅仅一天的事，它乃是我一生一世都能享用的呢。
祷告
主啊，我们存谦卑敬畏的心，来到你为我们预备的筵席面前，你的同在是筵席的中心。惟愿我们能永远住在你的殿中，享受你的同在。阿们
诗篇 23篇
1耶和华是我的牧者，我必不致缺乏。
2他使我躺卧在青草地上，领我在可安歇的水边。
3他使我的灵魂苏醒，为自己的名引导我走义路。
4我虽然行过死荫的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因为你与我同在，你的杖、你的竿都安慰我。
5在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席，你用油膏了我的头，使我的福杯满溢。
6我一生一世必有恩惠、慈爱随着我，我且要住在耶和华的殿中，直到永远。
A Table Prepared Before Me
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." - Psalm 23:5
Have you ever arrived at a banquet or a special event and been surprised at the beauty of the table that has been set up for the occasion? Sometimes a decorative "centerpiece" draws attention to the beauty of the table, but often the table itself is the centerpiece of an event!
There are many reasons why Psalm 23 has sustained people through difficult times, and one of the most hopeful images is that God will prepare a table for us. In the book of Exodus, a similar phrase is used as an instruction to Moses, outlining the expectation that the sanctuary was to include a table set in a certain way, and that the table would only be completely set when "the bread of the Presence" of the Lord was placed on it (Exodus 25:30).
But the table in Psalm 23 doesn't actually mention any bread. In Psalm 23, God's presence itself is nourishment, and the bread of God's presence is experienced in the "goodness and love" that follow us all the days of our lives. The wonderful table is set for us even while we are surrounded by difficulties. Not everything is perfect yet, but as we pass through dark valleys and are taught by the comforting rod and staff of God's Word, we arrive at a place where we can feast with God. And this feast lasts not just for a day but carries us through all the days of our lives.
Prayer
Lord, we are humbled and in awe of the table you have set before us. Your presence is at the center of it. May we dwell in your house forever. Amen.
