REFLECTIONS ON THE 23RD PSALM: A psalm about revival- Part Five
Psalms 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
The last few months Psalms 23 has come alive to me. Verse two has been especially inspirational. The more I've dug into the verses, their context, culture and languages, the more I'm also seeing fresh insights into the subject of revival, a topic that I've been very involved with, for nearly 2 decades.
"He makes me to lie down in green pastures". What does this truly mean? Let's consider the ancient languages used, the context and the shepherd's culture of the Middle East.
The idea of Jesus, MAKING ME TO LIE DOWN in GREEN PASTURES, has taken on new meaning. If you recall, the shepherd leads the flock, providing food and water, and so much more. But more than anything the shepherd searches for enough green grass for the flock's needs every day, and knows where those places are in advance because He's gone before them. The green pastures that the Hebrew describes, and that David referred to, is usually translated as "dwellings," or "habitations." "Pastures," therefore, refers to places where flocks and herds lie down for repose. You see, the grass of these places isn't mature, or ready for mowing. In fact, it's the first blades of growth from the earth, and is tender, providing just enough to eat in that day. Israel's climate is arid, and seldom gets more that 24 inches of rain per year. So, you see the shepherd must find a place where there will be enough grass for the flock to eat, and, a site where the sheep can be made to lie down in the enclosure the Shepherd has already constructed for them that's safe. Green pastures metaphorically refer to calmness and rest. It's a place where the revival of strength comes about. There in that dwelling, the needs of the flock are met, and the sheep feel satisfied because their wants are completely supplied. The question is: Do you know where your green pastures are? Only the Good Shepherd can show you. But, nonetheless, there are characteristics of these "pastures" in our lives that we mustn't ignore.
I believe that the idea of the Shepherd making us lie down, is something we've not appreciated. We live in a time where work consumes us. Quiet is almost impossible to find. Distractions of entertainment, social networking, and busy-ness swallow us everywhere we go. We've almost become so addicted to technology, that we don't recognize the things God is doing. And yet, with all we try to do, we often fail, and don't prosper because we're so driven to do, and too exhausted to slow down until we screech to a desperate halt. I've observed that so many folks have now come to live by the precept that they just need to work more, and harder, to get ahead. But it's never enough. In fact, the fear of lack is driving many people to a catastrophic end. Consequently, faith and trust in the Shepherd have taken a back seat to His ways of provision and rest. For these reasons, I find it interesting that one commentator suggested that the Hebrew words for "Lying down in green pastures" also refers to finding rest in God's heart. Wow.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures. This beautiful Hebrew phrase describes how God, in His loving care, that causes us to lie down, not necessarily forcibly, but in the way, that can't be resisted. What's more the way its tensed in the Hebrew, is that He does this continually. He is always trying to calm us and bring us to a place of quiet, even in the midst of, our daily grind. But are we aware of that? In your efforts to rebuke Satan for all the problems you're going through, could you be blind to God saying it's time to slow down and rest?
There are times I've wondered, if that when it seems like everything has shut down, and nothing is prospering, that we're being unwittingly "made to lie down and rest", eating only what is necessary, and being revived in a place of His presence. Are we fighting God's call to restore us? Will you let Him lead you to where you can find fulfillment and satisfaction? Maybe your "disturbing" season of quiet is, in actuality, God calling you to slow down and take time to listen? All our human efforts will prove worthless, until we allow Him to lead us to a place of rest and healing.
By Dr. Tamara Winslow
