ashwise Posted January 9, 2012 Group: Members Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 27 Content Per Day: 0.01 Reputation: 5 Days Won: 0 Joined: 09/13/2011 Status: Offline Share Posted January 9, 2012 About a while back I was watching Joel Osteen, for those of you who don't know who he is he is a pastor who preaches on t.v and is the head of a mega church. He has a line of books that promote living your best life. Anyway, the subject was about the verse in Psalm 23: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies from the NKJV of the Bible. Joel Osteen interpreted that verse as a way of having your enemies come to you when they need something from you and whenever something bad happens to think of God making a feast for you and serving it in front of your enemies. I'm just wondering if this what the verse really means or if there's a deeper interpretation of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Littlelambseativy Posted January 10, 2012 Group: Royal Member Followers: 6 Topic Count: 230 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 4,941 Content Per Day: 0.96 Reputation: 2,003 Days Won: 14 Joined: 02/08/2010 Status: Offline Share Posted January 10, 2012 Don't know where I got this from, whether at church or from here or elsewhere but this is what someone put down as the meaning of the Psalm's phrases - your question included. Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd = That’s relationship. I shall not want = That’s supply. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That’s rest. He leadeth me beside still waters = That’s refreshment. He restoreth my soul = That’s healing. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That’s guidance. For His names sake = That’s purpose. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That’s testing. I will fear no evil = That’s protection. For Thou art with me = That’s faithfulness. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me = That’s discipline. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That’s hope. Thou annointest my head with oil = That’s consecration. My cup runneth over = That’s abundance. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That’s blessing. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That’s security. Forever = That’s Eternity. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Openly Curious Posted January 10, 2012 Group: Royal Member Followers: 4 Topic Count: 55 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 4,568 Content Per Day: 0.69 Reputation: 770 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/18/2006 Status: Offline Share Posted January 10, 2012 About a while back I was watching Joel Osteen, for those of you who don't know who he is he is a pastor who preaches on t.v and is the head of a mega church. He has a line of books that promote living your best life. Anyway, the subject was about the verse in Psalm 23: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies from the NKJV of the Bible. Joel Osteen interpreted that verse as a way of having your enemies come to you when they need something from you and whenever something bad happens to think of God making a feast for you and serving it in front of your enemies. I'm just wondering if this what the verse really means or if there's a deeper interpretation of it. Hello, I totally disagree with John Osteen interpretation of Psalms 23: "Thou preparest a table before me in the prescence of mine enemies". First off the scripture reads that it was God who prepared David a place at his enemies table. John Osteen on the other side says that our enemies come to us whenever they need something (this is not found in the scripture ). Then whenever something bad happens to us we are to just imagine God making a feast for us wherein God is serving us at the table in front of our enemies (something wrong with this picture). Using one's imagination to picture God doing something is like me imaging putting all my past hurts, pain and suffering into a box with a lock and imagine myself digging a whole then bury it throwing away the key and of course you'll only have an imagined healing (I've been told this before). But our imaginations can dream up things that may sound good but truth is not present. In my opinion John Osteen's imagination has brought things into his interpretation of this scripture that simply is not there. Psalms 92: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fez Posted January 10, 2012 Group: Royal Member Followers: 3 Topic Count: 683 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 11,128 Content Per Day: 2.01 Reputation: 1,352 Days Won: 54 Joined: 02/03/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/07/1952 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Don't know where I got this from, whether at church or from here or elsewhere but this is what someone put down as the meaning of the Psalm's phrases - your question included. Psalm 23 The Lord is my Shepherd = That’s relationship. I shall not want = That’s supply. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That’s rest. He leadeth me beside still waters = That’s refreshment. He restoreth my soul = That’s healing. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That’s guidance. For His names sake = That’s purpose. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = That’s testing. I will fear no evil = That’s protection. For Thou art with me = That’s faithfulness. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me = That’s discipline. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = That’s hope. Thou annointest my head with oil = That’s consecration. My cup runneth over = That’s abundance. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = That’s blessing. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That’s security. Forever = That’s Eternity. I really like this example. There is a lesson in every sentence! Could preach for weeks on this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shiloh357 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Psalm 23:5 is referencing an ancient Hebrew banquet tradition. When rich people had a banquet, they would invite only the people they felt were important and worthy to attend. Furthermore, the banquets and feasts were always held outside. They wanted people to see who was at their party. They wanted to be seen with other important people. If the king had a banquet, those who were on the guest list were seen as those whom the king most favored. To be seen at the king's banquet was really saying something about your importance in the community. Others would look on in envy as they were not invited and they have to watch you feast and enjoy the favor of the king. So, with that in mind, David says that God has prepared Him a banquet in the presence of His enemies, whoever those enemies may be. They have to stand off and watch as he enjoys the favor of the Lord and they can't do anything about it. That God prepares David a banquet table in front of His enemies, is the ultimate rebuke of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bold Believer Posted January 10, 2012 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 121 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1,931 Content Per Day: 0.35 Reputation: 126 Days Won: 8 Joined: 01/22/2009 Status: Offline Birthday: 07/13/1955 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Jesus used the idea of a great feast prepared by a king in Matthew which follows along the line of what you said. The enemies were cast out and ostensibly had to watch from the outer darkness as the righteous ate in the King's presence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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