PSALM 23: VERSE 2

The Lord the Shepherd of His People

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
³ He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell^[a] in the house of the Lord
Forever.

As we continue to look at psalm 23, we now focus on verse 2.

A brief recap of VERSE I, shows that David was dependent on God for everything. God was his shepherd, protector, provider, guider, keeper and all that goes with the work of a shepherd. Now we continue to get insight from David as we progress with vs2.

² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
David says God actually makes him to lie down, let’s look at that for a moment. As you read this psalm, you realise one important point…GOD IS IN CONTROL. HE IS THE ONE WHO MAKES DECISIONS FOR DAVID. HE IS THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY MAKES HIM LIE DOWN. WHY?

What is to lie down? To rest, AND to still your spirit. To listen , AND to relax.  David clearly tells the reader that all that happens to him is initiated and conducted by God. When David says God,  you will soon realise that the wording used here involves the Trinity working together in the life of David, or  as in our case, the child of God, believer, Christian, or bride of Christ. Some translations actually, Psalm 23:1 as Young's Literal Translation Jehovah is my shepherd, I do not lack,

The name Jehovah is the Name of the TRINITY, also is  LORD.  So many scriptures support that. So back to my point, David shows that it’s GOD IN CONTROL. (Will give scriptures confirming that as we get along.). He makes me to lie down….. GOD PLANS FOR DAVID TO TAKE TIME OFF AND GO TO LIE DOWN. REST. 

nuwach noo'-akh

a primitive root; to rest, i.e. settle down; used in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, intransitive, transitive and causative (to dwell, stay, let fall, place, let alone, withdraw, give comfort, etc.):--cease, be confederate, lay, let down, (be) quiet, remain, (cause to, be at, give, have, make to) rest, set down. Compare 'Yaniym' (3241).

WHERE? IN GREEN PASTURES.

I] Love that. What then are the GREEN PASTURES? IT’S the WORD OF GOD! John 10:9. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture^...

 This scripture shows that the green pastures are the Word of God. Why does David feel the need to tell us the colour of the pastures. GREEN. GREEN is a symbol of life and freshness. It’s a symbol of newness and growth. Life and Renewal, the Nature and Culture of Green: Green is life. Abundant in nature, green signifies growth, renewal, health, and environment. Green is a restful color with some of the same calming attributes of blue.   PASTURE is the Greek word NOM’AY, which has the same roots as Nomos which derive from the Hebrew word Law. Or the WORD. Now you can directly apply that GOD, LEADS DAVID TO THE LAW, TO GOD,TO HIMSELF: JESUS,  OR TO THE WORD. (JESUS) we know, The Word, OR the LAW, BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMOUNG US. (JOHN 1:14. AND JOHN 1:1-5).  PASTURE is also associated with words like GROWTH AND INCREASE. WOW. Now David says God leads him to rest, lie down relax, in HIMSELF.IN A HEALTHY PLACE OF RENEWAL, AND LIFE. This is necessary for his growth and increase. That is the food that the believer needs to grow, the Word.

SELAH.

Moving on… He leads me beside the still waters.
Please note so far David has not done anything! IT’S still God doing everything. Now David says... God leads him to…. (Directs him, trains him, GOES IN FRONT OF HIM, makes David follow HIM

nahal: to lead or guide to a watering place, bring to a place of rest, refresh Original Word: נָהַל

, to the STILL WATERS. WHAT ARE THE STILL WATERS? The still waters are the waters of the HOLY SPIRIT, OR IT’S THE HOLY SPIRIT. REVELATION, 22:1. -2. (NKJV)The River of Life

22 And he showed me a pure^[a] river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. The language compliments that of John 14:26. The Holy Spirit is the ONE who proceeds from the Father, and from the Son. He is also referred to as the River of EZEKIEL 47. JOHN 4:10-11, PSALM 46, ZECHARIA 14:8, PSALM36:8, MY FAVOURITE being, John 7:37-39. Jesus says if you come to Him thirsty, He will give you drink. Verse 39 explains that Jesus was referring to the HOLY SPIRIT. NOW let’s have a brief look at the benefits of being in a place where there is a river that flows from GOD. Ezekiel 47 :1ff states ⁷ When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. ⁸ Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. ⁹ And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. ¹⁰ It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. ¹¹ But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. ¹² Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”-  SELAH !.

David also explains that the Waters God leads him to are still waters. It is not a contradiction that EZE 47 is a flowing river, I would like you to concertrate on the fact that it’s not a stormy place, but a quiet refreshing place. If you have been to a river bed the water at times seems to be still and peaceful, that doesn’t mean it’s not flowing. That’s important. One cannot rest in a storm, or near a rough gushing, threatening river. It’s in a quiet still riverbed where it’s peaceful where we can find rest and refreshment. Other translations use similar words, e.g., restful waters, refreshing waters, quiet waters, peaceful waters, waters of rest. Also still waters refer to depth in God. By constantly going to rest in the WORD, AND HOLY SPIRIT, you grow in GOD. You feed your soul with the Word and Drink  FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT. Alleluia.

APPLICATION TO THE BELIEVER OF TODAY.

1-    Its GOD who is in charge of David’s, life. Both spiritual and physical.

As a Shepherd of David, God plans his life. God leads David to a place of rest, where he can be refreshed both spiritual, and physically. God makes David lie down in green pastures. It’s God’s plan and program. Look at some FACTS ABOUT GREEN.- Green occupies more space in the spectrum visible to the human eye than most colours. Green is considered the colour of peace and ecology. How the colour green affects us physically: ·         Soothes and Relaxes mentally, as well as physically ·         Helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety Offers a sense of renewal, self-control, and harmony.

Introducing green ·

 The Word of God  Heals our bodies, refreshes our spirits and causes growth in the knowledge of GOD. JESUS said His words are SPIRIT AND THEY ARE LIFE. John 6:63, (NKJV)It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. When Jesus leads us to the Word, and to the Holy Spirit, we get life. The way the green colour affects us is amazing… helps alleviate depression, nervousness, and anxiety. The green colour also offers renewal, self-control, and harmony. From reading these you have no doubt IT’S THE WORK OF the WORD. THEN we see the importance of the REASON why the  LORD leads us there,( TO THE GREEN PASTURES).  N.B. YOU can also see the lack of these benefits in the lives of those who don’t spend time in the green pastures.(The word.).

Ezekiel 34:14-16

2-     It is GOD WHO MAKETH….In Ezekiel, 34:1-ff. after God has been disappointed by  shepherds HE SAYS.." Ezekiel 34:14-16 (NKJV)

¹⁴ I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. ¹⁶ “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”.  N.B. This scripture confirms what David says GOD does to him. God says HE WILL DO IT HIMSELF. NOTE THE,( I WILL). READ WHOLE OF EZEKIEL 34 and JOHN 10:9.

IN PSALM 23:2 WE learn, the sovereignty  of God, His love and Grace. We learn his mercies and the importance of being led, and guided by Him. Maybe on your own you wouldn’t realise the importance of the colour of the Pastures.  We also learn the Unity of GOD working within HIMSELF. THE (TRINITY), for the believer. God gives His word, and HIS Spirit for food, nourishment and growth. He knows what’s best for the sheep. It’s amazing to learn the power of the Word through the colour green, also the work of the Holy Spirit in refreshing, calming and growing the Christian in the things of GOD.

3-    We also learn the benefits of OBEDIENCE. And SURRENDER.

  NEVER ONCE DOES DAVID COMPLAIN.!. David shows complete trust, in  his Shepherd, ability, to feed, guide, lead and plan his life. The fact that he writes the psalm shows his confidence, in letting God run his life. What an example of being a sheep in the care of the GREAT SHEPHERD. The flock of today have much to learn from David in Psalm 23.

4-    Let’s apply the benefits of this verse to our lives today.

5-    We, AS THE SHEEP OF Jesus should  allow Him to be the good shepherd. We should follow and allow Him to lead us to a place of rest in His Word. In the box above there is a study of words Friday, 24 February 2012imagine what your life would be like if you allowed God to bring you to dwell, Settle down, and remain in His word .Also  If you let the Word refresh you and bring growth and renewal in your life.

6-    What about the benefits of allowing  The good Shepherd to bring you to the still waters, the Holy Spirit?.  Eze-47 quoted above shows that the RIVER OF God, brings life to everything in your life v9, MANY FISH…vs10. Some say fish are souls, or money. Both ways you win. You need to bring souls to the kingdom, and you need money to minister. Hence the fruitfulness of the healing waters.

7-    Vs12.- many trees for food and medicine, and unfailing fruit every month. Surely we need this. Can you comprehend what your life would be like when you allow yourself to be lead to the still waters. Fruitful ness, NO BARRENESS. HALELUA. EVERYTHING WILL LIVE WHERE THE RIVER GOES THERE SHALL BE LIFE.

8-    Psalm 46 says it’s the same river that makes glad the city of GOD. IT’S THE SAME RIVER OF LIFE THAT SUSTAINS THE heavens and the universe. Glory to God. That is why its only Jesus who can bring you there. The river flows out of HIM. It’s His Spirit.

9-    N.B….Please when you get to the green pastures and the still waters remain there until God has finished working on you!. MOST OF US NEED THE THERAPY OF THE GREEN PASTURES. WE ARE BADLY IN NEED OF CALMING AND SELF CONTROL. REVISIT THE BOX THAT TALKS ABOUT HOW GREEN AFFECTS US PHYSICALLY. ITS ABOVE. THINK HOW BADLY YOU NEED THE MINISTRY OF GREEN PASTURES IN YOUR LIFE.

10-       RELAX AND LET GOD WORK IN YOU!. BEFORE YOU RUN AND CALL OTHERS, BE A FINISHED PRODUCT  FIRST, OR ELSE YOU WILL END UP HURTING THOSE THAT YOU CALLED.

11-       ONLY AFTER YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE GREEN PASTURES AND STILL WATERS DO YOU GET THE OTHER BENEFITS. SELAH.

LETS PRAY.

FATHER WE NEED YOU. WE NEED YOU LORD. PSALM 23 IS CHALLENGING US AND SHOWING US THAT WE ARE FAR FROM YOU. SO FAR. DADDY WE NEED THE MINISTRY OF THE GREEN PASTURES AND THE STILL WATERS. WE NEED TO LEARN TO BE LED. WE NEED TO SETTLE DOWN AND DWELL IN YOUR WORD, WE NEED TO RELAX AND DRINK FROM THE LIVING WATER THAT FLOW FROM YOU. HELP US LORD. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND THE TENDER LOVE AND MERCIES OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BE WITH US AMEN.