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Tables. We have lots of tables at Trinity. Some of them are heavy, metal-framed, wooden-toped tables. They are awkward to rearrange so rooms can be used for different purposes. It was time to replace them with newer, lighter tables.

We bought new tables. We loaded them into two vans. Unloaded them at the church. And then, with the help of several of our youth, moved the old tables to the basement and placed the new tables in classrooms.

In the Bible tables are often mentioned. A table was set up immediately outside the Holy of Holies in the Temple. On it the Bread of the Presence – twelve loaves of bread symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel – was placed. These loaves of bread represented the spiritual food God’s presence meant to Israel. In Psalm 23:5, the Lord prepares “a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” This reminds us that God is with us even when times are hard. In the Gospels,  Jesus often reclined at the table when he was invited to meals. And just before Jesus was crucified, a table with bread and wine was set for the Lord’s Supper to remember Christ’s body given and blood shed for us.

But one verse stands out to me. At the last supper, Jesus tells his disciples that he will confer a kingdom on them just as his Father conferred a kingdom on him so that, Luke 22:30 says, “you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” In this verse, “table” is a promise – a promise of eternal relationship with Jesus and a promise of reigning with Jesus.

Each day, we use tables. Today, count how many times you use a table. I expect it will be a lot. As you sit at a table, as you put food on a table, as you rest your arms on a table, as you place a book or a computer or a pen and paper on a table, consider this: one day, you’ll eat and drink at Jesus’ eternal table in his Kingdom. That’s a promise. And when Jesus makes a promise, he never fails to fulfil it. Be encouraged.

視頻大意翻譯 (video Chinese translation):

桌子, 在教會我們有很多桌子。其中有些是非常重的金屬框木面桌子。在教室裡，很難因不同的需要來搬動重新排列。該是時候更新、用更輕的桌子來取代它們了。

我們買了新桌子。我們把他們裝進兩輛廂型車裡，在教會卸貨。然後，在幾個青年人的幫助下，將舊桌子搬到地下室，並將新桌子放在教室里。

在聖經中，桌子經常被提及。在聖殿的至聖所外擺了一張桌子。上面放著十二個麵包，象徵以色列的十二個支派。這些餅代表了上帝的同在及對以色列民的靈糧。詩篇 23：5 說，耶和華“在我仇敵面前擺設筵席”。即使在困難時，上帝也與我們同在。耶穌被邀請吃飯時，經常斜靠在餐桌旁。主的晚餐上擺了一張放有麵包和酒的桌子，以紀念基督的身體和為我們流的血。

但有一節經文讓我印象深刻。在最後的晚餐上，耶穌告訴他的門徒，他要賜給他們一個國度，就像他的父賜給他一個國度一樣，所以，路加福音22章30節說，“叫你們在我國裏、坐在我的席上喫喝．並且坐在寶座上、審判以色列十二個支派。”在這節經文中，“桌子” 是一個應許 – 與耶穌建立永恆關係的應許，以及與耶穌一起作王的應許。

我們每天都使用桌子。今天，數一數您使用桌子的次數。我猜會很多。當你坐在桌子旁，把食物放在桌子上，把手臂放在桌子上，把一本書、一台電腦、或一張筆和紙放在桌子上時，請想一想：有一天，你會在耶穌國度裡永恆餐桌上吃喝。這是一個承諾。當耶穌做出承諾時，他永遠會兌現。你要受鼓勵。

讓我們禱告。

Grace and peace

Pastor Callum