In the last book of the Old Testament, the Prophet Malachi rebukes Israel for dishonoring the altar by presenting blind, lame, and sick animals for sacrifice. Malachi’s response is “You are profaning it, in that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled’” (Malachi 1:7,12).
It is interesting that the altar, where sacrifices are made and blood is shed, is called the “Table of the Lord.” In Corinth, Christians continued to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. Paul, in referring to the Lord’s Supper, rebuked them, saying, “You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons” (1 Cor. 10:20-21).
It was God’s plan that we view the Lord’s table as an altar, where Jesus’ body was sacrificed and His blood shed. Additionally, as Paul pointed out, we should not mix elements of unauthorized worship with our participation in our spiritual communion. In our post-pandemic age, where many of the actual Lord’s tables have been removed, let us not forget the powerful symbolism of the term “The Lord’s table” as the altar where we come to break the bread and drink the cup.
-Dennis Doughty