Neville Turley

You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me; you welcome me as an honoured guest and fill my cup to the brim. Psalm 23:5 (GNB)

Christianity is a religion of love that brings eternal happiness into the life of those who believe.  Our Lord compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a feast. Feasting is a time of celebration, a time of joy. 

The Jews believe that when the Messiah comes to earth in glory, the new era will begin with a banquet where God's chosen people will sit down and celebrate.

Jesus did not dispel that belief. He just differed with their understanding of the guest list. He explained the banquet God would host when marveling at the faith of a Roman centurion "I assure you that many will come from the east and the west and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of heaven.  But those who should be in the Kingdom will be thrown out into the darkness, where they will cry and grind their teeth.” (Matthew 8:11-12)

No one, according to Jesus, will have an automatic right of entry by virtue of their birth or status.  Only those who responded positively without reservation to God's invitation would be welcomed at the banquet and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thoughts of fine fare and banquets must however have been far from Jonah's mind as he struggled to survive in the gastric juices of the fish. In his predicament Jonah offered up a psalm in praise of God and called on Him for help.

How sad that so many of God's children wait until they are in life-threatening situations before calling on God, yet his rich blessings are always at hand. For God has prepared a banquet for us in this hostile world.

George Herbert (1599 - 1633) in his famous poem on prayer, described prayer as 'the Church's banquet'.

Prayer is an ongoing banquet through which God generously blesses the spiritually hungry. He nourishes their spirit bringing joy, contentment and peace to their soul.

Why hunger spiritually when through a regular prayer life you can feast on manna from heaven?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, who taught us to pray and made us aware of the precious gifts you endow us with through the Holy Spirit. We praise and glorify you now and forever.  Amen