He Makes Me Lie Down

Photo courtesy of harborhawaii.org

I was in the 23rd Psalm today, reading it over with the children at our breakfast table, with the help of a wonderful book Grandma sent to us last year entitled Comfort for a Child's Heart: The 23rd Psalm and Bible Promises by David & Helen Haidle.  We read over the entire Psalm and then we will take it line by line for the next several days, exploring it's fuller meaning.  Now, the 23rd Psalm that is one that is very familiar to me.  I have heard it all my life (as far back as I can remember); in fact, it was read aloud at my granddaddy's and my mother's funerals.  I have also enjoyed Philip Keller's book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 which I read years ago in med school (one I'd highly recommend!).  Perhaps it is familiar to you, too; either way, I'd like to include it in full for us to enjoy today...

    Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

3     He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

    for his name's sake.

4 Even 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 overflows.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Despite it's familiarity to me, today a NEW truth began to emerge for me when I read this Psalm again (don't you love how rich God's living word is?!).  It is from the 2nd verse, so let's look at at that line again..."He makes me lie down in green pastures" (emphasis mine).  Now I don't know about you, but there are times in the lives of my loved ones that God simply MAKES them lie down in green pastures.  I have seen it in the life of an old friend who battles with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia, another friend who has been laid up with months of chemotherapy treatments within the past year, and I have most recently seen it in the life of my dad who is currently convalescing at my step-sister's house after back surgery necessitated by a traumatic injury.  None of us plan these interludes in life--in fact, they seem strange and foreign to us who live in a culture where production, efficiency, and sheer busyness is valued over rest.  And yet, God has wondrous things in store for those whom he MAKES to LIE DOWN for a season.  As my dear friend can attest to, these seasons of rest are rich with all of those wonderful things the Psalm goes on to describe.  Restoration (v. 3). Guidance (v. 3). Peace (v. 4).  Protection (v. 4). Comfort (v. 4). Preparation (v. 5). Anointing (i.e. setting apart and calling for a mission, v. 5). Goodness (v. 6).  Mercy (v. 6).  The Presence of God Himself (v. 6).  All in the context of contentment and relationship (v. 1), as a Shepherd relates with his beloved sheep.  We might not like it, or choose to lay down in this pasture...but is it not GREEN?  Yes, I pray we would see that it is!  It is a place rich with nourishment as we learn to feed on God Himself and enjoy communion with Him, completely apart from our own ability to "do" something "productive."  For this is a feast for God's chosen ones, His elect, and a path that leads only to deeper intimacy with Him!  As we saw yesterday, is this not truly the abundant life, hearing from God in a rich relationship as a sheep hears the familiar voice of their loving shepherd?  This may not look "successful" or "victorious" from an outside perspective, but what a rich and blessed life it is!