“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5a, ESV).

Enemies, in this verse, is a verb used as a noun. While this word is sometimes used in other places to refer to the enemies of Israel, it’s not the typical word for enemies, which is a noun and is related to the word for hate. In this verse, the verb comes from a word meaning to restrict, to bind, to tie up. That brings up a neat idea of celebrating in front of that which was trying to hold you back, but you broke through to the celebration. To be bound and restrained, that could describe someone in prison. Jesus says that He was anointed to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to those bound.

Jesus set us free from what binds us. There is the restrainer himself, Satan, and we are freed from his dominion, but there are also the things he uses to try and stop us, to hold us back, to bind us from running free in God’s kingdom. Jesus sets us free. We’re set free from the sin that so easily entangles us. We’re set free from the fear of death. We’re set free from attacks against body, mind, and soul.

That doesn’t mean we aren’t attacked and don’t suffer. It’s that we can get freedom from all of those things. We have God’s Word that says He will deliver us out of every trouble, meaning that there is trouble that needs delivering from. But in Christ we are overcomers. When troubles come that try to steal, kill, and destroy, we just need to humble ourselves before God with thanksgiving. He’s working out the blessing in it. He’s got the deliverance all planned out and on the calendar.

We just set our hope on Him and praise the Great God who chose to set us free, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who opened the prison doors by His death and resurrection.