He makes me to lie down in green pastures. (Psalm 23:2a)
We have looked at the first verse of this most blessed psalm, and we now continue to consider the second verse—He makes me to lie down in green pastures. It is the Lord Jesus as the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep. He knows that they have trouble lying down to rest so He paves the way.
There are four primary hindrances to a sheep lying down. Last week we considered two of these.
Sheep will not lie down if they are afraid. These timid animals will flee at the slightest disruption. The shepherd’s presence brings calm. So Christ provides assurance in the life of the believer. So long as we keep our eyes on the Savior, we need not fear.
Sheep also will not lie down if there is tension in the air. Sheep, just like people, are social in nature. They have a tendency to congregate, but also at times to not get along. When this happens, the agitation will prevent the sheep from resting.
Isn’t this so in our lives? It is almost impossible to get along with everyone. When we are disturbed we fail to find rest, and often cannot sleep. It is important to give our troubles to the Lord, and leave them with Him. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Pet 5:7)
Today we focus on the other two sources of restlessness—the third being insects. They can be a real problem for the sheep. They can go to distraction over them, and surely cannot lie down and be at rest. The shepherd must take great care and pains to help them. He puts ointments on them and keeps a watchful eye. This will be dealt with more fully when we come to the latter part of verse 5 (You anoint my head with oil).
Life is full of little irritations and frustrations. When we cannot handle them, we need to give them to the Lord. The Holy Spirit, like oil, will smooth the way and help us to endure these things. Keeping our eyes on the Lord will keep our eyes off of our troubles.
The fourth hindrance to rest is hunger. A hungry, ill-fed sheep is always on the move, trying to find some way to satisfy its need.
Most sheep are raised in dry, arid areas where there is not much foliage. They survive best in this kind of climate. However, green pastures do not just spring up. It means that the shepherd is going to have to take much time to turn rocky soil into fruitful fields.
Jesus likewise works to clear our lives of the rocks of unbelief, bitterness, and pride. He sows the seed of His Word, waters it with His Spirit, and constantly keeps watch so that the fields will be lush and vibrant. Christ wants the believer to live in a land ‘flowing with milk and honey.’ He wants us to be content with His care, and rest in Him. Yet, our sin nature would rather have us feed on the barren soils of this world.
Few Christians really enjoy this full, abundant life. How about you? It is a life of full surrender. It is a life of faith. It is a life of joy!