Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

One of things I have missed the most over these last 3 months is having people in for a meal. I love to cook and have been accused of being a “foodie” on more than one occasion. I like planning a meal, shopping, and setting the table. Especially setting the table! I’m guilty of having a strong attraction to serving dishes of various kinds and table cloths with napkins in corresponding colors. I like the preparation of a dinner party but love having guests at my table. If you are a friend or family and you live near me, you have eaten at my table. 

I sometimes wonder if my doorbell will ring again and folks will laugh and fellowship around my table anytime soon. I have a close neighbor who has become like family to me and she has shared the same sentiments. We have enjoyed many years of playing hostess to each other and we long for the day when we can dine together again.

My neighbor, Ginger, and I are not alone. Dining together, sharing a meal, breaking bread, whatever you want to call it has been an integral part of every tribe and tongue on this planet, past and present. We use meals not just to nourish but to celebrate, to mourn, to comfort, romance, honor and even settle disputes. The last thing Jesus did before his death was share a meal with his beloved disciples. Dining together promotes intimacy and fosters trust. When a meal is set before us, it stirs a primal response in us that we are cared for. It reinforces the idea within us that someone values us enough to prepare and provide. I always like going home to my folks because a meal was always ready when I walked through the door.

I love that this concept comes shining through in verse 5 of David’s 23rd Psalm. When I was writing “The Confessions of a Doubting Psalmist,” I spent more time on this verse because it was not something I had really ever stopped to think about. I recognized that David made a transition in his writings here, and God has gone from being portrayed as the Good Shepherd to the Gracious Host. After David shares that he has come through the valley accompanied by God and the comfort of the rod and staff, David proclaims that God has prepared a table and set it before him. It makes me think of a welcome back dinner for a soldier that has come from battle. God the gracious providing host that has welcomed David to a private feast that has been prepared with love and anticipation. It’s hard for me to grasp this, but God does love me so much and longs for my fellowship more than I long to serve any guest at any dinner party on my list. This concept is consistent throughout scripture as Jesus fed thousands to meet the needs of people as he longed for their attention to his most famous sermon on the mount. 

Jesus also personally dined on many occasions with friends and family and called out to Zacchaeus to come down out of the tree so they could dine together. Just think of how our hearts are warmed by invitations to dine with friends. How overwhelmed David must have been to come to the realization of the deep and protective love God had for him, David was so convinced of God’s love for him that David describes it like this. “God is hosting an intimate dinner party, He has especially prepared it …. and it’s just for me” Oh to be confident in HIs love!

I can’t stop there. What is a dinner party without guests? Here is where I really struggled to comprehend what David was trying to say. David says it’s a fabulous dinner party that God is hosting on David’s behalf, but at the top of the list of folks’ present are David’s enemies? What? Who wants enemies at their private party? I don’t know about you, but I am a little scared of my enemies. Enough that I don’t want to dine with them. God is not shook by the things that frighten or threaten me. All the while, He is setting the table calmly conveying to me He can swiftly blow out the enemy as quietly as He snuffs out the candles at the table.  

When I look closer, it doesn’t say “with my enemies” it says “before my enemies.” And this line is followed by David’s proclamation, ”He anoints my head with oil!” I realize David understands that he himself is the personal guest, and is so loved by God that God makes it known to David’s enemies by public declaration “David is my guest and this is the banquet I have prepared for him”. In those times, if a person was recognized by having their head anointed with oil, this conveyed they were the guest of honor.  We see this portrayed in other scripture (Mark 14, John 12) when Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with expensive perfumed oil in such a personal and intimate way of honor, conveying her deep love and worship of Christ. It is overwhelming to think that a Holy God loves me so much that He will not only symbolically prepare a table for me but God will anoint me with oil. This declares to all the scoffers, mockers of my faith, debbie downers and doubters, undermining sheep in wolves clothing, that I am chosen by God and furthermore honored and protected by Him. What a joy to hold to the truth that I have a reserved seat at the King of the universe’s table! That’s a Wow for sure!! Isn’t it great in this world where we talk to electronic voices and are assigned numbers for most, if not all our needs, that God is personal and intimate in His expression of love toward us? 

If ever you have hosted a party where the folks you were looking forward to seeing, weren’t able to be there, then you can understand disappointment. When I look at all the times, I have passed on the invitation to spend time fellowshipping with Christ, basking in His love, meditating on His words, trading it for the demand of the corporate should and the personal must, I am filled with grief and conviction.  How heartbroken and disappointed God must be when I do not avail myself to His invitation. I am reminded that God is patiently waiting to dine intimately with me. Where he will incline His ear like the patient Father He is, to hear of my toils from the battle in the valley, and where we will celebrate HIs victory over my enemies. In one of my favorite books,” See You At The House” by Bob Benson, the author has a narrative reminding us the bible ends with a feast. It’s a banquet where Christ Himself will personally serve us and intimately dine with us as we talk over how we made it through and how Christ overcame the enemy. Now that’s a dinner party!!!

Sharon Bundo

5 o’clock Worker