OF the many well-known characters mentioned in the Bible, and dear to all who love and search the Scriptures, the name of David stands out because of his endeavor to make every suitable occasion an opportunity to praise the God whom he worshiped. Many expressions of gratitude for God's power and love are contained in the Psalms, and they are read and sung among God-fearing people the world over. The heights to which David's thoughts were raised when he wrote the twentythird psalm may only be glimpsed, until we too have worshiped the one God with sufficient consecration to sing a spiritual song of adoration to Him.
The first verse of this psalm reads, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want;" and the concluding verse ends, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." In "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 578) its author, Mary Baker Eddy, interprets "house" as "consciousness" and "Lord" as "Love." This beautiful psalm portrays the shower of benefits bestowed upon man by his creator. Quiet perusal of it results in thought after thought of great spiritual import. As the verses are pondered, each seems to be filled with spiritual food, and each brings an ever larger desire to sing aloud the glories of our God with thanksgiving; and when all have been contemplated, the psalm is found to be most precious in its entirety. Let us, however, consider especially the sentence, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." This table, with the cover of spiritual purity, and light, and power, is laden with the bread of heaven, the spiritual qualities that feed at all times man who is the image and likeness of God.
In "Miscellaneous Writings" (p. 8) Mrs. Eddy says, "Simply count your enemy to be that which defiles, defaces, and dethrones the Christimage that you should reflect." Hatred, fear, dishonesty, revenge, and the like are our enemies; and when these seem to arise in an endeavor to overthrow our stand for good, we may instantly turn to this table, which is always spread at our hand, and partake unsparingly of the bountiful repast that divine Love has prepared right in the presence of these so-called enemies. The quality of the food laid there for our use is the exact opposite of the erstwhile enemy, and so satisfies our hunger that we realize peace within ourselves and with the world at home and abroad.
