He Maketh Me To Lie Down
Psalm 23:2, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures".
What a peaceful picture of a pleasant pasture! When you read the words that are penned by the psalmist here, you can almost smell the freshness of the meadow and feel the gentleness of the breezes that blow there. It evokes visions of white woolen sheep relaxing in the lushness of the green grasses. When such an image is painted upon the canvas of the soul, there is but one word that can summarize the grandeur of such a scene, and that word is rest! How could the sheep “lie down” if it were not true that these “green pastures” were a place of rest? But why are they so? What is it that the psalmist speaks of that makes this place a peaceful respite for the souls of God’s sheep?
Upon reading the psalmist’s words, there is something that immediately strikes hard upon the soul. It is evident that David’s peace and rest, his comfort and calm are NOT attributed to being in the right setting or situation, though one might easily assume that. The rest and recline that the psalmist enjoys is because of the Shepherd! Notice that it is neither the grasses nor the waters which provide such a peace, but instead he states, “HE maketh me to lie down”!
Oh that each of us might wrap our arms around the depth of such a truth! There is not a season, a situation, or a setting which provides a perfect atmosphere for peace! In fact, it is most unfortunate that we so often convince ourselves that if our circumstances were changed we would be able to enjoy sweet rest. This is a fallacious way of thinking! Consider the words of the psalmist when he declares, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for THOU, LORD, only makest me to dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8) It is not the meadow that gives rest to our souls; it is the Master!
Do you remember the story of Paul? Recount for a moment the time that he was on a ship with a number of unbelievers. He was journeying to Rome to make an appeal before Caesar concerning his imprisonment. In the process of the journey, the ship was caught in the midst of a deadly storm. In fact, Acts 27:20 describes it like this, “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was taken away.” The circumstances were so dire that “all hope…was taken away”! Yet in spite of this, Paul stood up before the men on the ship and said, “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God” (Acts 27:25)! How could he be encouraged in the midst of despair? How could he admonish them to “be of good cheer” in the midst of the darkness of such a storm? The answer dear friend is quite clear: Paul’s peace was not based upon circumstances but upon Christ! And so it must be for us as well!
Let’s consider the implications of the psalmist’s words for a moment. The phrase “He maketh me to lie down” translates from the Hebrew word (rabats) meaning to stretch out one’s self. The stem of the word is Hiphil which is causative. When these two things are taken into consideration, we realize that the psalmist is not saying that he is being forced to “lie down”, but rather, he is saying, “I cannot help but ‘lie down’”! He is saying, “It is 'He', the All-sufficient One, the Lord, ‘My Shepherd’ that is the source of my rest!”
Dear friend, we need to recognize that it is the Shepherd of our soul, and not the situations of our life, that can afford such a sweet peace and respite for our hearts! It is only in the One of whom it is said, “For HE IS our PEACE” (Ephesians 2:14) that peace and rest may be found! Oh that we might learn to rest in him who has called us, saying, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will GIVE you REST” (Matthew 11:28)! Jesus alone is “The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)!
When you examine the nature of sheep, you learn that certain things must be true for a sheep to rest and recline. Above all else, sheep must be free from fear. Friend, is there a circumstance that can bring such a liberty to your life? Is there a certain place where you could go and be assured that nothing is to be dreaded in that place, and that no fear will suddenly overtake you there? I submit to you that such freedom and liberty cannot exist because of a place, but it can exist because of a person, and that person is Christ!
It is the presence of our Great Shepherd that releases the soul from the fears of this life! Psalm 27:1-3 reminds us that, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” It is the very presence of our wonderful Shepherd that frees us from the torments of fear!
My beloved friend, do you long to have such rest? Do you desire to know where a respite of peace can be found? Are you seeking for that haven in which the dreads of this life are disposed? Psalm 23:2 plainly tells us where we may find such a treasure! As we have seen, it is not in certain seasons or settings of life, neither is it in particular circumstances! Here the psalmist assures us that peace and rest may be found, not because of such things but regardless of such things! And why is it so? Because "he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5)!
It is the ever present Shepherd and his ever perfect provision that guarantees us such a wonderful promise! This is why the psalmist is able to say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for THOU art with me” (Psalm 23:4)! This is why he is able to feast upon the table that God “preparest before” him, though they be “in the presence of…enemies” (Psalm 23:5)! Oh that this might be the testimony of our lives! Oh that we might ever look to the Shepherd and rest in his presence and his promise, so that we too may be able to say, “He maketh me to lie down”!
No comments:
Post a Comment