Come To The Feast!

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” – Psalm 23:5

In ancient Israel, mealtime took on special significance when guests were present. You were careful about who you faced across the table, for dining together was a sign of acceptance and fellowship. Sometimes the meal would even be a celebration of a covenant. After all, Israel could trace its very existence to the Passover meal in Egypt. And their covenant with God had been sealed by Moses and the other leaders by eating and drinking (Exod. 24:11). The table spread for the psalmist here in this famous psalm was remarkable for still another reason: It was spread in the presence of King David’s enemies. Imagine – those who had sought David’s life had to sit by and watch him actually share a banquet with God who protected him! As believers in Jesus, we recreate this scene whenever we gather for worship around the Lord’s Table. In the Communion, the setting of praise is public. It’s a table Christ Himself has spread so openly that even enemies of the faith – visible or invisible – can witness the table fellowship we enjoy with Christ. While private times of worship and praise are important, nothing can take the place of this periodic banquets with Christ and other Christians. At the table, as with Israel amid its taskmakers in Egypt, for the Passover lamb we have been given the Lamb of God Himself. “This is my body,” Jesus said, as He broke the unleavened bread at the Last Supper. For us, the term “body” recalls both the physical body of Christ that was broken on the cross, and the Church, “which is His Body” (Eph. 1:22,23).

Thus, at His Table, we not only think of Christ’s sacrifice at Communion, but we are also mindful of our union with each other. The church at Corinth forgot this “people” aspect of “Body”, ignoring the poor among them, and the apostle Paul said that this carelessness prevented them from sharing the Supper acceptably. Let us be warned. And let us also remember Jesus’ words, “This is my blood.” In the wine of Communion we participate with each other and with our Lord in the very essence of that which saves us – the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin! What outbursts of praise this should call forth from Christians! Let’s never allow the Lord’s Supper to degenerate into a morbid memory, a dull routine or a rote ritual. Here is the meal that we share with Him who delivered us and our kinfolk, Israel, from bondage. We celebrate the sacrifice of our Lord on the cross on behalf of the sin of the world. And we affirm that Jesus will come again, for we anticipate the ultimate “last” Last Supper – the Messianic banquet that we will enjoy not in holy isolation, but in the heavenly joyous presence of our Saviour and the saved of all ages! Praise in Prayer What a joy, O God, to be invited to the feast of good things we celebrate in the Lord’s Supper! I praise You for the sacrifice that makes this possible…for filling me to the brim and running over…and for brothers and sisters who share this banquet with me. In the name of Christ our Passover, Amen. Taken from Jack Hayford’s, “The heart of Praise”