These past 20 months have been some of the darkest and most difficult since the rebirth of the nation of Israel 77 years ago. Our family, along with the whole nation, has been walking through a tremendous amount of grief, sorrow, anger, loss, pain, and sustained uncertainty as a result of the terrorist invasion of Israel, by Hamas, on October 7, 2023. Added to this, Israel is now at war with Iran — seeking to dismantle Iran’s nuclear capabilities which they have determined to use against Israel and Western civilization.
Many of you may know that I returned to Israel a few days ago. As a result of the war with Iran, Israel closed its airspace, so all flights coming into Israel were cancelled. I managed to get a flight to Cyprus, and eventually found a flight to Amman, Jordan, and then crossed over into Israel through one of the open border crossings. For those who were praying for us, thank you. I finally made it back home and was reunited with my family.
So much can be said, and is being said, about the political and geopolitical implications of the region-shifting maneuvers underway, but I would rather draw your attention to what the Lord has been speaking to me these past several weeks. As I’ve pondered, and even prayed about our family leaving Israel for a bit, or even relocating for an extended period of time, the peace of God did not come upon my own self-protective ideas, prayers and plans, but rather rested upon His purpose for us to remain where we have been positioned for the time being. In response to this, the Lord drew my heart’s attention to something that the psalmist wrote in Psalm 23:5, He writes, “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil, my cup runs over.”
This scripture has become so much more than a quotable verse in my life — it has become a life-giving reality. In the midst of war, in the midst of trouble, in the midst of uncertainty — there is a table that is set before us. There is a standing invitation to come sit at this table and join the Almighty there, yes, in the presence of enemies. This is an invitation for me and it is an invitation for you. I want to remind you that no matter what comes in this life — the pains, the hurts, the betrayals, the unexpected, the difficult, or the dark, our Heavenly Father will faithfully set a table before us and invite us into deeper intimacy with Him, into a greater revelation of His love, and into the oneness that is shared between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
He will anoint our head with oil, so that our SOUL — our cup, will not be empty, but will overflow and actually run over in abundance. This is His promise to us because He is the good and faithful shepherd of our souls. He is the Lord — our provider, our protector, and our defender.
There is no way that I can be totally sure of what you may be going through today. But allow me to tell you WHAT I AM TOTALLY SURE OF. In spite of any difficulties, challenges, and hardships that you are dealing with — your soul can be washed by the water of God’s life-giving, unchanging, and unshakable word and you can embrace a renewed hope in your heart. Come to the table and let God’s word wash over you right now. Here’s just a few soul-nourishing passages from the Psalms:
Psalm 46: Our God is a refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Psalm 34: When the righteous cry out for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 27: The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 121: I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 91: He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge, and my fortress, My God, in Him I will trust.
I’m really hoping to encourage you with the same encouragement that I am receiving from God. I want to remind your conscious mind of what your spirit already knows. God has elevated His word above His own name. Not one word that He has spoken will return to Him void. Every word that He has declared will precisely fulfill what it was sent out to perform. Just like the rains water the earth and return to the heavens, so every word that God has spoken will not fail to fulfill its mission. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He is the sustainer and maintainer of His purposes in our lives. His grace is all sufficient, His wisdom is beyond our understanding, and His power is greater than all thrones, rulers, and dominions.
God has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies. We don’t have to run anywhere but there. Come to the table. God is anointing our heads with fresh oil, and God is causing our cups to run over in abundance.
He reminds us today, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” His light is shining in the midst of the darkness, and His kingdom rules over all.
For me, coming to the table means being intentional about pursuing the place that God has prepared for me. It’s choosing to navigate to the only place where I can find soul refreshing in the midst of the battle. It starts by soaking in a worship song, meditating on a passage of scripture, setting aside moments of silent reflection, or simply reminding myself of God’s exceedingly great and precious promises. But here’s the real kicker. The table He sets is the table where He sits. It’s not just the song, the scripture, or the moments of silent reflection that restores the soul — it’s Him. He sits at the table He sets, and in His presence is fullness of joy; and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.
With much love from the table in Jerusalem,
Steve
For those who may desire to sow financially into the Carpenter Family during this intense season, here is a direct link to the Highway 19 Single Charity Fund with the National Christian Foundation: https://mygiving.secure.force.com/GXDonateNow?id=a0U6S00000bm8JRUAY
Your support — both in prayer and finance, is a real and tangible encouragement.