Psalm 23 - verse 5

You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies...

After carefully examining this segment, I was so overwhelmed by the 'word picture' it formed, that its taken weeks of patiently mulling it over in an effort to phrase it in English.  And I still can't really do it. 

There are several remarkable words used here, and they both play off of each other and work together.  The whole verse is clumsily translated, and the reason might be because its difficult to communicate.

The words are 'arak' (translated 'prepare'), 'shulchan (translated 'table'), 'neged' (translated 'in the presence of'), and 'tsarar' (translated 'enemies'),

Arak: lay out a case, set out arguments, prepare for battle, draw up battle lines, furnish, equip

Shulchan: to spread out, its translated as 'table' by implication, because that is a place that something is 'spread out' on, but the meaning of the word is 'spread out'.  In combination with 'arak' it is saying that the 'case' is laid out or set out as if on a table, its visible, ordered, arranged.  The root of this word is 'shalach' which means 'sent out'...and that's translated as messenger or angel (a sent out one).  The root to keep in mind is 'spreading out', and spreading out with a sense of purpose

Neged: right in front of, consipicuous, to make known

Tsarar: bound, in distress, cramped, shut up, pressed hard upon

You see the word play between God's action, which is to spread out, to make known, to equip?  And David's cramped state of being pressed hard upon?  

Remember the traditional setting for this Psalm?  It's said to be written about David's being in the cave when Saul comes in.  David was shut up, bound up in a sense, hunted by Saul, quite possibly oppressed or at least assaulted by fears and doubts, and definitely being pushed by the 'advice' of his men...insisting that this was a chance provided by God to dispose of his enemy Saul, and take the crown of Israel for himself.

Now what's the next part of the verse?

YOU anoint my head with oil...

Not David's men, not Israel, not David himself...but GOD anoints David to rule.  God sets out His case, is true to His word, spreads out what is needed.  David can't do this.  He is bound, cramped, pressed hard upon.  

In a sense he's pressed hard by the temptation to take for himself, isn't he?  Yet he is reassured by the rod and staff of God's will and way, he is comforted that though things look entirely different from his (cramped) perspective...God sees everything laid out in its proper order.  And GOD anoints David in His time.

My cup overflows...

I am satisfied, content, as if saturated, I am in a place of abundance, a full, rich, wide open space!

Warning: think before believing!

The church teaches:

• the only way to be saved is through Jesus

• Jesus is God (most commonly taught as part of a trinity of one god yet three separate people, not three separate parts; if that seems illogical or confusing, its because it’s a mystery)

• if you’re not saved by believing in Jesus then you’re going to hell

• hell is where Satan and demons are, some believe it is their dominion under their rulership

• Satan is a being that is lord over demons, who are in opposition to God over the eternal souls of humankind

• some believe that Satan has been given rulership over creation

• hell is a place of constant torment (either in and of itself or because the demons torment residents)

• Satan and God are in a battle (though God has won outside of time, the effects are being felt within time) 

• one day Jesus (that part/person of God) will return to put everything right through a battle with Satan

• the purpose of being saved is to gain eternal life and to go to heaven instead of hell, which is where humankind is going if they’re not saved from it

The Bible on the other hand, doesn’t teach any of this!  Yes, you can find some verses that seem to be referring to it, though not if they’re read without bias and/or in context and/or by examining the words and their use in the original language. 

The Torah contains the instructions of God as close as they come.  He is said to have written His ‘ten words’ with His own ‘finger’, and the rulings on those words were given to and recorded by Moses.  The prophets consistently uphold this Torah and warn of punishment for turning away from it and blessing for observing it.

The Torah contains NO teaching on:

• Jesus (at least as taught by the church)
• heaven
• hell
• Satan (as a specific named being)
• demons
• future eternal life (the way its taught by the church)

There are some verses that seem to be referring to some of these words, which can be understood when read in context, without bias and/or by examining the use of key words throughout the text. 

 

The Prophets also don’t contain teaching on any of these things.

There are a few places where it may be seen that the ‘New Testament’ may teach about these things, but again, they are understood when read without bias, in context and sometimes by referring to the original meanings of key words.  The book of John contains most if not all the references used to support divinity of Jesus.   Yet this book isn't written in a literal, factual style like the others, which means it shouldn't be understood that way either.

If God, who teaches us with compassion and mercy, wanting us to know all the things He considers important, and not desiring any to perish, didn’t teach these things; and if the rest of the christian bible doesn’t really contain teaching on these (not references, but teaching) then where did these ideas come from and how did they get so firmly entrenched in modern day religious doctrine among christians?

That’s a good question.  A better one is why would you base your entire faith on things that aren’t taught by God?