He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23:2-3
Doesn't that sound peaceful? It's especially appealing to me on this last day of preschool of the year because I want to complete what's left of my Christmas shopping. Frantically running around finding stocking stuffers and other gifts is as far from green pastures and still waters as I think I can get!!
In the midst of this crazy time of year, how can we lie down in green pastures and drink from quiet waters?
Notice the verbs that convey the Shepherd's care for you: He makes me lie down ... he leads ... he restores ... he guides.
Green pastures refers to rich pastures where the sheep don't need to move from place to place to be satisfied. Do you see the metaphor in that? We don't need to move from this job or from this small house that can't hold all my stuff or get a new car or a yacht or if only I had that husband or if my 2 year old would only potty train, or if these kids would stop waking me up at night so I wouldn't be so tired, or if we had more money or if, if, if.... The Shepherd's provision is enough.
Quiet waters or still waters in the King James Version literally means "waters of rest" in the original Hebrew. Did you know sheep are afraid of rushing water? They don't like loud noises so their water source needs to be quiet. Picture a stream or brook whose shallow, clear water ripples gently over rocks and pepples. It conveys peace, still, quiet. No surprises. Nothing scary. Peace. The water must be shallow as well because the wool of the sheep gets saturated and heavy when wet so they would sink and drown if in deep water.
The shepherd doesn't rush them. He's patient. That's describes our God... patient, not in a hurry like I often seem to be with my kids.
He who began a good work in you will carry it on until completion. Philippians 1:5
The Message says God who started this great work in you will keep at it and bring it to a florishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears. I LOVE that it says florishing finish! Like a grand finale. Like the last few bars of a musical masterpiece! I will one day be just like Jesus Christ and little by little, through the Lord's patience, I will get to that point!
Another verse that describes our Shepherd's patience is 2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
So often I want God to hurry up and teach me what I need to know so this trial can end and I can move on with my life. But that is not how the Shepherd operates. He's patient; this trial is my life. I can grow to be more like Christ through it or I can become bitter at my Shepherd for allowing it in my life. It's a choice... MY choice.
When we take our time and drink from the Living Water, we will be as Psalm 1:2-3 states. When you read the Word of God and meditate on it and dwell on it throughout your day and as you lie in bed at night, you will be like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
We will be refreshed; we will be satisfied. The void in your life, that empty feeling that you lack purpose, will be filled when you walk closely with the Lord.
There is only one way to be truly refreshed and satisfied, and that is through a right relationship with Jesus Christ. And by that I mean studying God's Word and obeying it.
My challenge to you today is to take a moment to kneel before your Shepherd. Ask him to make you more like his Son, Jesus Christ. Read from his Word and meditate on what you read. Ask the Lord to use his Word to renew your mind thus giving you peace and satisfaction.
.JPG)
