Content and Satisfied with my Shepherd
My Shepherd takes such good care of me that all I feel is gratitude beyond measure. Believers are not left to survive but led to thrive.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures."
Personal
I first noticed that He, my Shepherd, I AM, Jesus, is the one doing the action. Then, I noticed I "am" in a very personal relationship with Him. He is caring for me, seeing that I eat and eat well, and shepherding me.
It is the Shepherd taking care of sheep that belong to him, but more than that, it is me having such a relationship that I know it is "me" that is benefiting from this relationship.
In Psalm 23, David is probably under attack from his son Absalom, but David knows one great truth: "The LORD is his shepherd." David is announcing what his Shepherd does for him. David already stated that he lacked nothing, and now the king declares his Father is caring for him.
So far, it has been "my shepherd," "I shall not want, "and "makes me. "David felt like God personally cared for him, which is exactly what you should feel no matter what you are going through. All of this is yours if you have trusted the "I AM "who is seeking a relationship with you.
Pasture
When David was a shepherd outside Bethlehem near Jerusalem, they received an average of 28 inches of annual rainfall. That much rain allowed them to grow barley and wheat, and good green pasture would have been possible. However, to put the 28 inches of rainfall in perspective, the area of Georgia where I live averages over 50 inches of rain per year.
Just east of Bethlehem, the average rainfall was only 5 inches, meaning a shepherd had to really know the area, and the flock might have been on the move a great deal.
David cared for sheep in a dry, sunburned wasteland, unlike what anyone in Georgia is used to. Green pastures are not an accident. Developing green pastures requires labor, especially in arid or semiarid areas. Someone must clear rocks, prepare the soil, choose seed, and sow it. Then fertilize and care for it.
The Shepherd had a great deal of work to do. The sheep will eat, become satisfied in this rich green foliage, lie down to rest, ruminate, and grow fat.
The sheep need to fill up quickly and lie down to really gain weight and grow.
This pasture is beautiful, prepared, and taken care of. The Shepherd also rotates the grazing to keep it green and growing.
Provision
The Shepherd has so protected and provided for the sheep that it lives free from fear, pests, parasites, hunger, and even abuse by other sheep. The sheep lie down, contented and happy.
I love how it says he makes me lie down. It sounds like when the Thanksgiving Meal is so great, so sweet, so good, and so rich that we all want to lie down afterward. That is what the Shepherd is doing for his sheep.
God does not give us a spirit of fear or timidity but of power, love, and self-control, discipline II Timothy 1:7
Our Shepherd makes us live in safety, no matter how much the war rages around us. Psalm 4:8
Our Shepherd warns of the abuse from others and says that He will protect us Ezekiel 34:15-22
Principle
Do you see what David saw as he learned from his relationship with sheep? He knew what he did. David knew he had fought off wild beasts to protect his sheep. He knew he worked at monitoring their health, taking care of their pastures, and leading them to the best water holes.
David says, "Well, the Lord does all of that for me, and even though people want to kill me right now, I can remember this: I have a shepherd. He will provide me with food and green pastures. He will allow me to lie down without fear of predators or pests."
He treats me so well, even when the storm clouds are the darkest and the winds howl the most, that I feel as I do after the Thanksgiving feast.
David says I have everything I need. I have food and protection and can just lie down in the blessings no matter what the world and the devil are trying to do to me.
By the way, notice that there is more than one pasture. He has pastures. His provision is above and beyond. I don't have to worry about today's or future meals because he has pastures.
Precaution
Before we close, can I give one strong warning? We are so man-focused that we see this psalm being about me or the preacher. We see "I get to look for food," or the pastor should be careful to preach good messages, but the psalm is about what the Shepherd does for you.
You get upset with pastors and other spiritual leaders because of your man-centered focus, but God promises to care for you.
So far in this psalm, David is talking about God, the Father, the Shepherd, the I AM, Jesus, and what He does. The LORD is my Shepherd.
I shall not want, and my Shepherd is the one providing for me.
All the focus, the praise, and thoughts are what a Good Shepherd we have.