The Table of Mercy: When God Feeds Your Enemies A Daily Devotional by: Ernesto Joseph Sandoval “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” — Psalm 23:5 We often read this verse and picture God throwing us a victory banquet while our enemies are forced to watch, powerless. We imagine a feast of vindication while those who wronged us grind their teeth, unable to partake in the blessings God has laid before us. But what if we have missed the deeper heart of this verse? What if the overflowing cup is not meant to gloat over our enemies but to invite them to drink? What if the table prepared before them is an open invitation to repentance, reconciliation, and a taste of God’s mercy? A Table in the Presence of Your Enemies In the ancient Near East, sharing a meal was an act of peace, covenant, and restoration. It was a sign that enmity was put aside and that peace was extended even to those once considered adversaries. When Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” (Luke 6:27) He was not speaking in an abstract sense. He was echoing the Shepherd of Psalm 23, who leads us not just beside still waters but also into moments of radical mercy that seem impossible. The “table” prepared before your enemies is not a display of your superiority. It is a display of God’s mercy through you. Mercy Poured Out, Mercy Shared God anoints your head with oil, marking you as His, not to boast, but to commission you to be a vessel of mercy. Your cup overflows so that others, even those who have wronged you, can taste and see that the Lord is good. Mercy is the currency of the Kingdom. We have been forgiven much, so we forgive. We have received mercy, so we give mercy. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” — Matthew 5:7 When Enemies Become Family Imagine the power of your enemies seeing your forgiveness, your peace, your unexplainable kindness, and turning their hearts to God because of it. Imagine the day when those who once stood against you now sit beside you, feasting at the table of grace, washed by the same blood of Jesus that redeemed you. This is not weakness. It is the victory of Christ’s cross working in real time. For Jesus died for us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8), and we are called to reflect that same love. A Prayer to Live This Table Out Lord, thank You for preparing a table before me, even in the presence of my enemies. Teach me to see this table not as a place of pride, but as a place of invitation. Let my overflowing cup of mercy be a testimony of Your grace. Give me the courage to extend kindness to those who have hurt me, not by my strength, but by Your Spirit. May my life reflect the mercy that You have shown me, so that others may taste and see Your goodness. Amen. A Challenge for Today: Is there someone you consider an “enemy” in your life right now? Pray for them today, sincerely asking God to bless them. Look for a small way to extend kindness, even if it is only through silent forgiveness in your heart. Reflect on how God’s mercy to you empowers you to become a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). God’s mercy is not just for you to receive; it is for you to share. You are called to the radical table of the Kingdom, where enemies become brothers, and where your overflowing cup invites even those who have hurt you to find living water. This is how we dwell in the house of the Lord forever—by dwelling in mercy. Amen 🙏✝️✝️✝️