Abundant Grace DailySample

Satisfied and Still

Psalm 23:2

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23 is a God-saturated view of life. Verse one of this comforting psalm boldly states that, with Yahweh as our Shepherd, there is nothing else we really need.

The rest of the psalm answers the question: "How then does this Divine Shepherd satisfy all my deepest needs?

The first answer is in verse two:

He makes me ... he leads me. In other words, God is active. He is intimately involved in my life. He takes the initiative. When I need food, he provides lush, “green pastures”. He provides the sustenance I really need. When I am thirsty and need refreshment, he leads me to still waters, literally "waters of rest". This implies a stillness, a resting place, where my parched soul is quenched. The LORD, my Shepherd, knows how and when to take me to a place of rest.

He makes me lie down …The Shepherd of my soul knows what is best for me. When I’m scurrying around, trying to achieve more than God designed for me, he often slows me down through wise counsel (preferable), or sickness (less desirable). I can personally attest to the latter experience. During one particularly severe episode of lower back pain, I was confined to bed for weeks. I’d been running too fast. My Shepherd made me rest. Initially, I resented it, but came to realise that this was God’s megaphone to get my attention.

In green pastures … There are plenty of lush pastures available, if only I’ll notice them and feed on them. Primarily, this has been the result of my habit of daily meditating on Holy Scripture.

He leads me beside still waters …In the arid landscape in which David spent his days, finding water for parched sheep was essential. He knew, as an experienced shepherd, that turbulent streams wouldn’t work, so he took his flock to quiet pools. Have there been times in your life when you have responded to God’s call to be still? What did you do?

How did this work out in David's life? Maybe these statements are retrospective? Is he thinking back over his life, recalling times when God provided abundant food and refreshment precisely when he needed it? Or maybe this was his daily or weekly review, as he reminded himself that God is the all-sufficient provider?

How does Yahweh, our ever-caring Shepherd, make us lie down in green pastures and lead us to a place of still waters? In my own life, I have found that God does that through devotional plans that provide food for my hungry soul, or books that expound Scripture in a life-transforming way, or biblically grounded sermons that nourish and refresh me.

Often, it's not so much my finding a book as a book finding me. Not my hunting out a good devotional. Rather, a devotional landing in my lap at precisely the right moment. Not my choosing lush pasture, but the Shepherd choosing it for me. Not my hunting for a refreshing stream, but an oasis suddenly appearing when my soul is bone dry.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my loving Shepherd, thank you for dealing with me so gently. I confess that I sometimes stray to pastures that leave me hungry and more needy than ever. Thank you for providing lush pastures through your Word. As I think back over my life, I’m so grateful for the times you’ve made me lie down when I’ve been running too fast and leading on empty.

Lead me to waters of quietness, where I’ll experience the soul-rest you promised. In the Name that is above every other name. Amen

Reflection:

• How have you been nourished by green pastures to which the Good Shepherd has led you in the last month?
• In what ways lately have you experienced the LORD your Shepherd slowing you down and leading you to places of stillness?

Action: Ask God to lead you to a book, online sermon, or devotional that will guide you to green pastures and still waters.