Psalm 23 - True Rest

“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” Psalm 23:2

Sheep are curious creatures. And what is even more curious, is that of every animal God created in Genesis chapter 1, He chooses to compare us humans to sheep. Sheep are mentioned more than any other animal in the Bible (over 500 times) and in a majority of those mentions, people and sheep are directly related. Why? Well, not for flattering reasons, but for very honest reasons. Sheep are stubborn, selfish, and fiercely resist authority by offering a “stiff neck” to those that attempt to lead them against their own will. Sheep have no genuine sense of personal direction and fall prey to the “lemming theory”, that is, simply following the herd, even if it’s in the wrong direction or into danger. Sheep have no natural defense against predators besides running, and unfortunately, sheep can’t run very fast. As a result of having no natural defense, sheep are very skittish, fearing everything around them. All of these facts lead to the conclusion that sheep need help. A lot of help. And I can personally attest to these facts as my brother raised a sheep, Nancy, for FFA while in high school. Nancy was all of these traits in abundance. As a result, Nancy needed a constant caregiver and overseer for her safety and well-being. And beyond just Nancy, all sheep need someone that will lead them, provide them protection from outside evil, keep them from straying into harm, and especially to protect them from their own stubborn damaging nature. And it is here in the 23rd Psalm that we see one of the most beautiful pictures of this caring, loving, protective shepherd of men…the Good Shepherd...the Lord Jesus Christ.

As a result of sheep being skittish and fearful of everything around them, they have a difficult time resting. If you’ve ever been around sheep, you will quickly notice that they very rarely lie down and truely rest. It looks like they are always grazing, yet they are really only snacking while staying on high alert for danger. As I would approach Nancy, she always kept a keen eye on me and if I made any sudden movements, she would dart to the high ground in fear. So considering this paranoia of fear and danger, how do you afford a sheep true rest? How do you grant a sheep the comfort, peace, and solace that will allow them to truly lie down and sleep deeply and receive true rest?

King David knew. And he wrote it down here in Psalm 23. You see, at the end of his life, this mighty king, this fierce warrior and valiant leader, looked back on his simple days as a shepherd boy and could see how God alone truly granted him rest. David knew how deeply the shepherd knows his sheep. David knew what his sheep needed and when they needed it. David knew that good shepherds are aware that sheep are skittish around loud and unpredictable noises, so the wise shepherd allows his sheep to drink water not from a rushing, loud river, but quiet, still waters. David knew a good shepherd waters his sheep in a way that doesn’t alarm them, but grants them peace. A good shepherd knows that only a perfectly content sheep will lie down. Only a sheep that is free from fear, free from surrounding turmoil, and has a full belly of nourishment will finally lie down. A good shepherd will feed and water his sheep to satisfaction and then under his watchful, protective eye, his sheep will truly be allowed to lie down in the green pastures in which he has led them and find true rest.

One of the most beautiful parts of Psalm 23 is David’s confession in verse 1. The Lord is my Shepherd. The Lord was not “a” shepherd to David. He was not some generic caregiver. He was personal, knew what David needed, when he needed it, and provided personal love, care, and most importantly, a true rest that David could feel in his soul. Do you have a shepherd like this today? If not, maybe you can feel a tension in your soul. A soul that is seeking its own way, a way that is bent on self-satisfaction and feeding of self. Maybe you are living a life that is filled with strife and paranoia as you are afforded no true rest from the countless perceived dangers of the world. Today can be different for you. You can personally know the Good Shepherd. You can utter the same absolute that King David uttered some 3,000 years ago in this very Psalm. Call upon Jesus to be your Savior, to lead you, to guide you, and to provide you peace, protection, and sustenance. He will feed you to satisfaction with the bread of life, that is, His Holy Word, the Bible. He will allow your cup to overflow with the living water that is His Salvation. Call upon Christ today to save your soul and make you a member of his blessed flock. And as a result, be prepared for true rest. Not simply rest of your body, but the true rest of your soul.

For only in Jesus Christ, only in the Good Shepherfd, can you be allowed to truly lie down in green pastures. Blessings ~ Dan

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Iglesia de Santa Cecilia, Atlixco, Mexico