Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5b)When the night lifts from the sky and the sorrow from our hearts, He remains faithful. When we trust Him with every anxious thought, He has promised His peace, one that is far beyond our horizons.
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. Luke 22:14-15 ESV
This time when we come to the Lord’s table, it is not a feast in a green pasture, nor is it a banqueting table under a beautiful banner. This table where Jesus invites us was where He ate His last meal on earth, sharing it with His closest friends. Here is the table where Jesus took bread and blessed it, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me” Later, as dinner was ending, Jesus took His cup and said, “This cup is poured out for you which is the New Covenant in my blood.” This is the table which He ate at while His enemies watched. This is the table where the banner of His love was spread over us. So, let’s take a moment and lift up our hearts in praise because, at this table we are asked to remember the terrible price that He paid for our salvation. Let’s worship Him in amazement, because this is the table overflowing with blessings that He has earnestly desired to share with us. But before we eat and before we drink: we are cautioned to ask, “Have we prepared our hearts for this table which Jesus has prepared for us?” If not, He invites us to seek His pardon, trusting that He will never turn away any child who comes with faith and a repentant heart. Here at the Lord’s Table, is the good news that He has done all that we need to make us ready to share this table with Him!
He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Song 4:2 NKJV
Though no one seems to know who wrote the chorus, “His banner over me is love!”, based on this verse, it became one of our favorites worship songs back in the early 1980’s. As a young person back then, I didn’t understand what the words meant, nor did I even realize it was from the Bible, but it was lots of fun to sing! On this second day of looking at the Lord’s Table this song reminds me that, God not only prepares a table for us, but He also has spread a banner over that table. His banner shields us spiritually, in the same way that shelters which people set up on the beach in the Summer protect them from the sun. This banner also designates us as His people, like a team flag tells you which university your players represent. Anyone seeing us under its shadow, will know that we belong to God. Then last, but certainly not least, God’s banner of love, like a privacy lattice we put on our back porch, gives us an intimate place where we can share a meal together. So, when God invites us to His banqueting table, remember that He doesn’t just shout “Come and get it!” Instead, He sets up His banner of love over His table, and then gently and lovingly beckons us to come and sit with Him, hear His voice and delight in His presence. If your Christian life seems to resemble more of an assembly line of activities, demands and expectations, maybe it is time to step back, take a deep breath and begin singing again. “He brought me to His banqueting table. His banner over me is love!” P. S. I hope you will enjoy listening to the Cedarmont Kids show us how it is supposed to be sung!
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