You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil…
Psalm 23:5
Divine Nourishment That Will Give You the Victory – Psalm 23:5
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Reflection
We are told throughout Holy Scripture that with faith we can do all things, but that without it we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). We are also told that when we put our faith in the Lord, surrendering all our cares to Him, He will fight our battle(s) for us; He will give us victory over the enemy. The psalmist experienced this first hand, joyfully proclaiming: “You prepare[d] a table before me in the presence of my enemies…!”
You may not be preparing for a physical battle like King David was but, whether you realize it or not, you are engaged in a spiritual battle. While we cannot see the spiritual battle raging around us, it is there … and it is powerful. What makes it powerful is that we cannot see it. What makes it even more powerful is that we oftentimes, because we cannot see it, deny its existence. But whether we deny the existence of spiritual warfare or not, the war rages on. It oftentimes attacks the mind while using our emotions as its weaponry.
Whether facing an enemy in the flesh (as in the days of Scripture) or in the spirit (good vs. evil; right vs. wrong; truth vs. falsity; peace vs. chaos), having the right “nourishment” is critical for building the necessary virtue that leads to victory, i.e. strength, courage, perseverance, discernment, etc. Where does this nourishment come from? The Word of God.
No matter what kind of battle you are faced with today, you will need the grace of God to conquer it. Divine strength that comes from grace is nourished by the Word of God. It ensures that you are fully equipped for whatever comes your way. Because King David was diligent in picking up his spiritual sword — the Word of God — each day, trusting in the Lord’s provision, he was able to proudly profess: “You have anointed my head with [blessings]; my cup overflows!” And so will yours. Miracles abound for those who put their trust in the Word of God — the divine nourishment that always leads to victory.
Prayer
“Lord, Thank You for the gift of Holy Scripture — Your divinely-inspired Word that continues to bring us so much hope and strength. As we prayerfully meditate on this verse today, we humbly ask that You bring Your Word to life in our current situation. Remind us also throughout the day of the hope that knowing You brings into our lives; the power it has over the negative influences and circumstances surrounding us. Lord Jesus … we trust in You. It is in Your good and Holy Name we pray, Amen.”
For Reflection
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows” – Psalm 23:5.
“Let the enemy to rage at the gate; allow him to knock, pound, scream, howl; let him do his worst. We know for certain that [the enemy] cannot enter our soul except by the door of our consent” – St. Francis de Sales.
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