“Feasting in the Face of Your Enemy: How God Wins and So Do You”

“Feasting in the Face of Your Enemy: How God Wins and So Do You”
By Dr. Keith M. Waggoner

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
— Psalm 23:5

Context and Author

Psalm 23, perhaps the most beloved of all Psalms, is attributed to King David—a warrior, king, poet, and man after God’s own heart. Written as a song of trust, this Psalm explores God’s intimate care and protection for His people. Verse 5 contains a vivid, almost defiant picture: a banquet prepared for David by God—not after the enemies are vanquished, but while they’re still watching.

This is not a post-battle celebration. It’s a declaration of victory in the middle of the battlefield. It’s a meal set not in the absence of conflict, but right in the tension of it.

The Table of Triumph

Imagine this scene: you sit calmly, eating a rich meal, laughing even, while your worst enemies—those who sought to destroy you—stand helpless. They can see your peace. Smell the feast. Hear the clink of the goblet. And they can do nothing.

That’s the picture David paints. And it’s one of dominating victory. Not vengeance, not pettiness, but divine validation.

When God sets the table, you don’t just survive—you thrive. And your enemies see it. That’s God’s style. He elevates His own not by crushing their enemies with brute force, but by blessing them in plain sight. He doesn’t need to eliminate the enemy to prove His point—He just blesses you so outrageously, they can’t help but watch.

The Physiology of Peace

Now let’s translate this spiritually loaded image into something neuroscientific and primal.

When a human eats, especially in ancient and warlike times, it was a signal: I am safe. I’m not in fight-or-flight. The brain interprets eating as a sign of security. You don’t digest in danger. You fight. You flee. Or you freeze. But you never feast.

That’s why I teach operators, athletes, and executives this simple performance hack:
When you’re in high-stress environments, breathe deeply and eat something.

This practice interrupts the amygdala’s alarm bells—what’s often called the “lizard brain.” By engaging in a calm behavior like eating, you trigger the parasympathetic nervous system, specifically the “rest-and-digest” response. This involves:

• Vagus nerve activation

• Reduced cortisol production

• Improved heart rate variability

• Decreased amygdala reactivity

• Increased executive function via the prefrontal cortex

The result? You stop operating like a cornered animal and start acting like a composed, strategic king. That’s what David was. And that’s what you can be—when you trust the One preparing the table.

Eating as a Covenant

Meals are never just about food. To eat with someone in biblical times was an act of covenant and communion. Jesus Himself dined with sinners—not just to share calories, but to open hearts.

The word communion literally means “sharing in common.” It implies vulnerability, unity, and peace. That’s why the table in Psalm 23 matters so much. It’s not just a feast—it’s a symbol of divine intimacy and relational dominance. God isn’t just feeding David. He’s communing with him, in full view of those who hoped to isolate and humiliate him.

And that’s where the verse from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount fits perfectly:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
— Matthew 5:9

You don’t have to destroy every enemy. Sometimes God calls you to sit down and feast. Sometimes He prepares a path where your victory isn’t in battle, but in being blessed beyond the need to retaliate.

Dominant Victories Come from God

This Psalm isn’t about a man who fought harder. It’s about a man who trusted deeper. God doesn’t need your enemies to like you. But He will make sure they see you succeed. In front of them.

And that, my friend, is true spiritual victory.

• It’s not hidden in private wins.

• It’s not a delayed reward.

• It’s a public triumph designed to show that those who follow God win.

In a world that’s spiraling in anxiety, fragmentation, and vengeance—God prepares His people to feast. He doesn’t call us to react like the world. He calls us to live like kings and queens seated at His table.

And if you trust Him—if you really trust Him—you’ll stop defending yourself and start dining.

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Closing Reflection:
In the face of stress, opposition, or even betrayal—pause. Breathe. Eat. Let your body know you’re secure. Let your soul know God is still your Shepherd. And let your enemies watch. Because the best revenge… is restoration.