Scripture
3Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. 4That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him. Psalm 128:3-4
Observation
Table time is transformational. The Psalmist paints the picture of flourishing for those who fear the Lord. He could have chosen any number of gathering places, but instead I chooses the table. So did Jesus. “27After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 29Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.” (Luke 5:27–29). In those days to invite someone around your table was to call them family. Jesus was very intentional that his meeting places with the lost, broken, and rejected would be around the table. In fact, the Biblical narrative culminates around a table in celebration of The Bridegroom and His Bride, Jesus and His Church, Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are the true words of God." (Rev. 19:9). If this is such a priority for Jesus it should be for those who follow Him.
Application
Our family lives for Friday. It’s the beginning of our Sabbath celebration and starts and often ends around a table with good food, laughter, and stories from the week. With our oldest son Elijah now married and our second born Aden on his way, we love knowing we will see everyone together once a week at the table. We’ve tried to make sure family dinners are a regular part of their upbringing. A chance to put devices aside and have real Face Time! It turns out that it’s not just scriptural to prioritize table time, it’s also incredibly important to the development and upbringing of a child.
-The #1 factor for parents raising kids who are drug-free, healthy, intelligent, kind human beings? Frequent Family Dinners.
-The #1 shaper of vocabulary in younger children, even more than any other family event, including play? Frequent Family Dinners.
-The #1 predictor of future academic success for elementary-age children? Frequent Family Dinners.
-The variable most associated with lower incidence of depressive and suicidal thoughts from 11 through 18- year-olds? Frequent Family Dinners.
In a day of digital overload the younger generation is yearning for “old-school” “real-time” relationships with those who won’t condemn them, but will love them. When young teens were asked by Barna about the one thing they wish they could change about their parents they gave answers that might surprise. They wished their parents would spend less time on their screens and more time with them. The new method might be the old methods renewed as mission. Jesus models this for us. He sits at a table surrounded boy tax collectors and sinners and the religious leaders decide to interrupt. Not to ask for a seat at the table but to condemn their table. We have a sign on the wall next to our dining room table that says, “Jesus Eats With Everyone”. There are many who did not grow up in a home that feared the Lord or prioritized healthy relationships. We can provide that safe place to find the face of Jesus around a good home cooked meal. Ultimately, a table is any gathering place where relationships can be built.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for inviting me to Your table, for saving a seat for me. It reminds me that You don’t just love me, but You like to spend time with me to. I spend this time with You receiving Your fresh bread so I can invite others to try it too. Thank You for my beautiful family that is flourishing because of You. May I continue to lead my family and relationships in the fear of the Lord. May I have Your heart for those who don’t have a table to gather around and need to know The Father’s Love for them!
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