Peace from the Shepherd (Psalm 23:2) – PART 2

2. Peace from the Shepherd (Psalm 23:2)

Psalm 23:2, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

With the Lord as his shepherd, David knew no want or lack. His needs were met by his shepherd. He had everything he needed. And God's people of every generation have not lacked: We are at rest and at peace when we feel secure, God made it clear that without Him your life would be robbed of His rest and peace. How does a person find peace and rest? You find it by structuring your life around that which cannot be taken away or destroyed. You structure your life around the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Green pastures speak of Rest. " He maketh me to lie down in green pasture;" We will not rest if we are spiritually hungry. The shepherd finds pasture where the sheep can eat safely—a place without parasites or predators that endanger the sheep. This has to do with finding rest in the Word of God. The 'green pastures' represent food to the sheep.

The lying down represents leisure or time. This represents God’s people spending time meditating on the food which He has prepared for them, which is the Word of God. The Lord provides a green pasture for his sheep every time the Word of God is truly preached. This challenges all who know the Lord to crave Biblical preaching heartily.

It’s in the green pastures where we find peace and pleasure and feast all along. When the shepherd opens a gate into a fresh pasture, the sheep are filled with excitement and kick up their heels for joy. There is great ease spiritually in God’s green, grassy meadows, in living fellowship with the Lord.

2. Still waters speak of Refreshment. " he leadeth me beside the still waters." Sheep do not lack refreshment because they are led beside still waters. God's people often find themselves in need of spiritual refreshment. This is because they walk in a wearying and exhausting world. Where is the needed refreshment to be found? It is green pasture in which we may feed and refreshing water from which we may drink.

Often Jesus Christ, the Living Water, is rejected, that men may satisfy themselves at the polluted water holes of the world which cannot satisfy a thirsty soul. Sheep are also easily spooked by fast-moving streams and are hesitant to drink at them. Just as the shepherds of the east country cause the waters to become still so that the sheep will not be afraid to drink, even so does Christ send the Spirit quietly into our lives so that we will not be afraid to drink. The shepherd will slow the current or create pools of water by damming up the stream. He will still or calm the waters. We too, get spooked when life gets moving too fast for us. The Lord can calm us down and give us rest when this happens. We can drink deeply of God’s Holy Spirit who is water to our thirsty souls.

The Lord has set us free from captivity; from the turbulent current of this world where we know enjoy peace and rest. A great burden is lifted when a person places complete trust in the Shepherd. The Lord is well in control of every situation, and our peace is simply to be where He is!

PRAYER: LORD, thank You for the peace and rest that I have in You. In Jesus Name AMEN!

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