v.2a He makes me lie down in green pastures.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety” Psalm 4v8 ESV
The idea of lying down gives a sense of contentment. Free of fear and worry. No friction or caring about whether one will be provided for. That’s certainly true for the sheep and is also true for us.
When we know the Good Shepherd caring for us we will have no problem lying down, because it’s Him who make us to lay down.
When in the midst of trauma, suffering and living with PTSD it is often difficult to lie down in safety.
However, even when dealing with these things it is possible, even if not all the time, to lie down and know His peace and His presence. It can take many years for someone who has been dealt severe blows in their life to get to this place. The promise however does remain.
Green pastures are often hard to come by in Israel. David would have had this in mind when penning this Psalm. The shepherd would lead the sheep to the next available grass to eat and then move on to the next. A bit like the manna that God provided in the desert. Just enough for what they needed for that day. God would then provide the next day.
When one is in the midst of suffering it is good to be reminded of that. So often we worry about what tomorrow will look like let alone five years down the road.
v.2b He leads me beside still waters.
Water is essential for sheep to be healthy. It’s still waters that they drink from, not stormy waters. We too, need to drink from the Lord. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to Me and drink”.
We are all thirsty, but so many of us drink from the dirty pools of this world and suffer as a consequence.
Again, it’s not always easy to drink from the living water of God when you’re in the depths of suffering. I have often neglected this side of things simply because I lack energy and motivation.
Sheep will often rise early in the morning to drink the dew of the early morning. These things takes time and effort and most of the time we need God to lead us. We need Him to be doing what we can’t when suffering. He is well aware of our weaknesses and He will lead us to drink. He will make us to lie in green pastures.
I take comfort from these things. God is the instigator when we are deep in the pit. He hasn’t forgotten us. The shepherd never forgets the sheep but always, always has their best interests at heart.
Prayer - Dear Lord, thank you that you are the great provider everyday. Even when we feel empty and have no resources left, you still lead and take us to where we need to be. Amen
I am grateful to Phillip Keller for the insight I have gleaned from his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’.
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