Waching daily Apr 25 2018

Psalm 23 has a lot of imagery of shepherds and sheep.

However in verse five the picture kind of changes a bit to that of a man who's

provided for by God.

It's the imagery of a feast, maybe we can

think of a Thanksgiving meal spread out on a massive table and how the person of

honor is invited to come and to eat, despite the fact that his enemies are

looking on in scorn and disgust. When I read these words it's hard for me not to

envision a picture of the New Testament sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper.

It's not so much of a stretch for us to imagine that table laid out before us a

reference perhaps to the Lord's Supper, that cup even overflowing as in the

Lord's Supper God gives to us bread and wine, yes, but also with it the true body

and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, an abundant blessing. It's not

too much of a stretch to think about this one who's anointed with oil. Could

it be a reference even looking forward to baptism, as even Jesus own baptism was

referred to as anointing? We think about what happened there the Holy Spirit

descended upon him the father spoke of him

As we think about the blessings for us in baptism

we can be reassured there we are God's dear children. That we received the

forgiveness of sins all while the scoffers and enemies of God and His Word

and of the church look on. There are many who say there's nothing more there than

bread, wine, or water. It doesn't benefit you any more than maybe stilling a little

bit of hunger or washing your body clean from dirt, but there is. As we trust God's

Word and what it says that through those things God provides for us abundant

blessings not the least of which is the forgiveness of all of our sins.

Yes, rejoice in this table spread out before you. Rejoice in the sacraments

that God has given to you to provide these incredible blessings. Amen.