From Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible -
"Thou preparest a table before me;
thou hast provided for me all things pertaining both to life and godliness, all things requisite both for body and soul, for time and eternity:’’ such a bountiful benefactor is God to all his people; and it becomes them abundantly to utter his great goodness, as David here, who acknowledges,
(1.) That he had food convenient, a table spread, a cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his thirst. (2.) That he had it carefully and readily provided for him. His table was not spread with any thing that came next to hand, but prepared, and prepared before him.
(3.) That he was not stinted, was not straitened, but had abundance: "My cup runs over, enough for myself and my friends too.’’
(4.) That he had not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight: Thou anointest my head with oil. Samuel anointed him king, which was a certain pledge of further favor; but this is rather an instance of the plenty with which God had blessed him, or an allusion to the extraordinary entertainment of special friends, whose heads they anointed with oil, Luke 7:46.....not only thus nobly, but thus tenderly, are the children of God looked after. Plentiful provision is made for their bodies, for their souls, for the life that now is and for that which is to come. If Providence do not bestow upon us thus plentifully for our natural life, it is our own fault if it be not made up to us in spiritual blessings."
I love reading Matthew Henry's writings of long ago. Even though he wrote in the early 1700s, his words often express my thoughts, but in much more eloquent verbiage.
In the above, do you pick up on the abundance of God's provision for us...not just for this earthly life, but for all eternity. And, as he says, if our "natural life" does not contain an abundance of earthly goods, we are still plentifully provided for due to the spiritual blessings that we have due to His beautiful, saving grace.
I also love the thought that he expresses in that God does not just provide for us with any old thing that happens to be handy to throw at us, no PBJ sandwiches for our banquet, He prepares our provision...he lays it out before us a carefully prepared table of goods. And he does this in front of our enemies, so that they can see just how profusely our Father loves His children.
Sometimes I fail to see just how abundantly my Father God takes care of me, but at other times that beautiful table is made so clear to me. That beautiful table that includes so many earthly blessings that I have enjoyed, but more importantly displays those platters of overflowing grace, mercy and life everlasting. What a table it is..come join me there...all are invited!
(As I write this, I'm listening to Travis Cottrell sing, "In Christ Alone"...what a chorus to dine by!)
