A Magnolia's Heart Beats

While I have had numerous friends in my life, I have had enemies as far back as I can remember. Enemies don't have to merely be people who hate you or work to harm you.

The Hebrew word for enemies is tsarar, which means:

1) to bind, be narrow, be in distress, make narrow, cause distress, besiege, be straitened, be bound
a) (Qal)
1) to bind, tie up, shut up
2) to be scant, be cramped, be in straits
b) (Pual) to be bound, be tied up
c) (Hiphil)
1) to make narrow for, cause distress to, press hard upon
2) to suffer distress
2) to show hostility toward, vex
a) (Qal)
1) to show hostility toward, treat with enmity, vex, harass
2) vexer, harasser (participle)

These are the kind of enemies I am talking about. Negative circumstances, illnesses, loss, and suffering, and even people who have caused harm to me have surrounded me all the days of my life. The feeling of being vexed and bound, besieged and distressed is not a good one.

During the year of the Lord's favor, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Isaiah.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor." ~ Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

God does not intend for us to dwell among the presence of our enemies. His favor has come once again, this time through His Son Jesus Christ. He truly has prepared a table before us in the presence of our enemies!

The Hebrew word for prepare is `arak, which means:

1) to arrange, set or put or lay in order, set in array, prepare, order, ordain, handle, furnish, esteem, equal, direct, compare
a) (Qal)
1) to arrange or set or lay in order, arrange, state in order, set forth (a legal case), set in place
2) to compare, be comparable
2) (Hiphil) to value, tax

The Hebrew word for the table He prepares is shulchan, which means:

1) table
a) table
1) of king's table, private use, sacred uses

I love that in the midst of trial and vexation, our God arranges and esteems before us His beloved King's table, which speaks to me of personal times where we can go to Him in prayer and read His Word. It's a beautiful table. I imagine it as not the fanciest thing in the furniture store, but one that is scuffed with use, because I have been there many times! It doesn't hold food, well, maybe coffee. It contains my Bible and perhaps a notebook and pen, like the picture above. It's well-used by me and those I invite to join me there.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." ~ Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

When distress and trouble surround us, we can pull a seat up to that table and dine with our Heavenly Father, feasting on His Word, pouring our hearts out in conversation with Him and those we invite to join us for counsel.

He removes the presence of the enemies from us there. He anoints us. The Hebrew word for anoint is dashen, which means:

1) to be fat, grow fat, become fat, become prosperous, anoint
a) (Qal) of prosperity (fig.)
b) (Piel)
1) to make fat, anoint
2) to find fat (of offering - acceptable)
3) to take away ashes (from altar)
c) (Pual) to be made fat
d) (Hothpael) to fatten oneself (of Jehovah's sword)

I love the last definition. to fatten oneself of Jehova's sword. What is His sword?

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." ~ Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

I don't know about you, but that's something I would delight to gain weight in! Before this year is out, I will have read the Bible through 3 times. I did that in one year. The first time I gained weight in the area of dealing with the words that I spoke. The second and this third time I am gaining weight in learning the holiness and sovreignty of God. Each time I read His Word, I am happily fattened by the morsels with which He feeds me. These words enlarge my heart!

The oil of His anointing is so great that our cups can indeed overflow!

The Hebrew word for overflow is rĕvayah, which means:

1) saturation

How do we get to the Lord's table? How do we arrive at the place He has prepared for us in the presence of our enemies and receive the anointing that causes us to become saturated in Him?

We call to Him in prayer and the table is suddenly set before us. We have only to take a seat.

"I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD." ~ Psalm 116:13 (NIV)

Let's all become saturated in Him.

S - Seek God daily in prayer. "My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" Your face, LORD, I will seek." ~ Psalm 27:8 (NIV)

A - Accept the restoration and forgiveness He offers. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." ~ 1 John 1:9 (NIV)

T - Take time to feast on God's Word. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." ~ Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

U - Undergo His transforming power. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." ~ Romans 12:2 (NIV)

R - Radiate God's love to others. "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." ~ Romans 12:10 (NIV)

A - Accept a seat at the table He has prepared for you in troubled times. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." ~ Psalm 23:5 (NIV)

T - Trust completely in God. "Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." ~ Psalm 37:3 (NIV)

E - Embrace God's love for you. "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." ~ Lamentations 3:21-23 (NIV)

D - Determine to walk the faith you talk. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." ~ Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

To view all posts in this series, please visit the links below.

Psalm 23:1
Psalm 23:2
Psalm 23:3
Psalm 23:4

Closing prayer request: I found out Tuesday night that my uncle's cancer is back. This is his fourth bout with malignant melanoma. It came back in the same place in his brain that it was the last time. He had surgery in May and went on chemotherapy pills in July. It has previously been on his back and in his side. Last year was the first time it returned in over 20 years. It showed up in lymph nodes on his side and he underwent grueling immunotherapy. He is scheduled for surgery December 15th. We are a little discouraged but by no means defeated! We are pulling up to the Lord's table that He has prepared for us. Oh, what a timely post this was for me - I had written it before I learned of the return. We believe God's best for Jimmy. He has seen him through thus far and we know that our God is bigger than cancer. We simply trust God. Jimmy is a man of strong faith in the Lord and one of my earthly heroes in life. He's a history teacher and is husband to Susan and dad to James & John, 8 year old twin boys. Please keep them in your prayers.

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