Food
is often associated with people and their fellowship. As our hearts and minds are flooded with
thoughts of Thanksgiving, followed by Christmas, perhaps it is no coincidence
that Christmastime is also the time associated with the Feast of St. Stephen’s.
Then, right on the heels of Thanksgiving and Christmas is New Year’s, another
day the families gather at the table. Christmas will be a time of turkey,
dressing, cranberry sauce, ham, yams, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole,
peas, corn on the cob and pumpkin pie. I am not in favor of changing the name
from Thanksgiving to turkey day. We still need to be thankful, even for the
turkey we eat. All the glory goes to God for His benefits. “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” (Psalm
103:2). As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving. Let us ask ourselves,
what is the attraction?
The
table says I’m accepted.
The first time the word “table” is mentioned in the Bible is
in Exodus 25:23 which says, “Thou shalt
also make a table of shittim wood: two cubits shall be the length thereof, and
a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof”
(Exodus 25:23). The revelation of this table came to Moses at the same time God
gave him the Ten Commandants, “And look
that thou make them (the Tabernacle furniture) after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the (Exodus 25:40).
The law was given to set a moral standard and create civility
in an uncivil and fallen world. The law also shows us that we have sinned and
need a Savior. Paul said, “…I had not
known sin, but by the law…” the law…” (Romans 7:7). “For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it
slew me” (Romans 7:11). Thanks be to God, in the same revelation of the
law, God also gave us the Tabernacle, which was the way back to God. It was
here God explained in detail about the sacrifices, the altar and the mercy
seat, in other words, the way back to God. Among the artifacts of the
Tabernacle was this Table of Shewbread. God was saying, come back to Me. Come
back to fellowship. He was saying, as long as the blood has been shed for your
sins, we can talk. Now Christ has died once for all for our sins and through
Him we can sit at the table for fellowship. “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us
accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
You know what the table means? It means we are accepted. The food said you are accepted back to the
land of the living, back to the will of God.
This is why holidays mean so much. It means you are accepted. Hardly
anything can be more emotionally painful to know that you are not invited to a
Holiday meal hosted by someone you love. Holidays are a good time to make
amends and welcome the prodigal home. The table says, you are accepted! “And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill
it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again;
he was lost, and is found” (Luke 15:23,24).
I originally heard this story from Paul Harvey. Although I
have heard different versions, this is the one I recollect. A young son had
been incarcerated for some ten years. He had been arrested so early in his
youth for mischief that he had turned criminal. Oh, how remorseful he was for
the wrong he had done that caused him to be imprisoned. One of the great
regrets was the deep pain and embarrassment he place upon his fine up-standing
family. So great was the shame that he sincerely wondered if his parents would
ever forgive him. He wrote home, saying, “I know I have disappointed you. I
shall be coming through town on the 3:00 train. The train passes your house
shortly before it pulls into the station. If you don’t want me to come, do
nothing, I’ll understand. I’ll stay on the train; go to another place, another
town and start all over. Believe, me, Mom and Dad, I understand why you
wouldn’t want to ever see me again. I can promise you this; I will never
embarrass you again. If you do want me to come home, there is a way I’ll know.
Just tie a white handkerchief to one of the limbs on that old oak tree that I
presume is still standing. You know, the one I built my tree-house fort in. The
one I tied the old tire to for a great swing; that one. The train slows at that
bend just before our house. I’ll have a perfect view from my window. The day
came, the train slowed, with fear and trepidation, he looked. And he did not
see one…not one handkerchief. Every limb was covered with white handkerchiefs.
It looked like a snowstorm! And beneath the tree, crying for joy that their son
was home was Mom and Dad waving a giant white sheet. In my mind I see them
showering the boy with hugs and kisses. And can you see it with me? …. just
beyond them, a table set with all of his favorite food. Thanksgiving would be
good time to say, “Welcome home.”
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