For centuries hungry hearts have found comfort in the Psalmist's immortal words (Ps. 23:5), "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." But, one may ask, in this present-day wilderness of human woe, is there such a table? And who are the enemies?
On page 135 of the Christian Science textbook, "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, declares: "There is to-day danger of repeating the offence of the Jews by limiting the Holy One of Israel and asking: 'Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?' What cannot God do?" And on page 8 of "Miscellaneous Writings" she makes this rousing statement: "Simply count your enemy to be that which denies, defaces, and dethrones the Christ-image that you should reflect."
Christian Science reveals God's "table in the wilderness" with its abundance, yes, in the very presence of the enemies, and shows how divine Love answers the cry of human anguish and feeds the hungry heart. Holy men of God have proved this to be true time and again. A notable example is the prophet Elijah. Divinely directed, Elijah in time of famine and drought drank of the brook Cherith and was fed by ravens. When the brook dried, God told him to go to Zarephath, and the word came (I Kings 17:9), "Behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." He found, however, that instead of the promised supply, sense testimony was presenting a picture of dire lack and despair, for the widow was preparing what she believed to be the last scant morsel for herself and her son.
