Though one of the shortest psalms, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly the most famous of all the psalms. It is carved into headstones and quoted in foxholes. It is familiar but seems dreamlike and something we have seen on flannel graphs and paper fans at tent meetings. Sometimes, we dread hearing it. Other times, we crave to hear it audibly whispered in our night of despair. Because, more than ever, our world needs a Shepherd. Someone to feed us. Someone to lead us. Someone to give us rest.
This song of praise was most likely written near the end of David’s life. Undoubtedly, David is feeling nostalgic. The way I do every fall. He has grown past the despair that so often laces the psalms and truly realizes that to be a captain and a king, ultimately he only needed to be to be lead by God. Psalm 23 speaks of God’s ever abiding presence as our Good Shepherd,
not only sustaining us and leading us to still waters and green pastures, but beyond the valley of the shadow of death to paths of righteousness.
David speaks of the necessity of the rest God faithfully provides (“He maketh
me to lie down in green pastures”). Because God sees our need of rest, He supplies a place (“still waters”) that not only calms our hearts but also prepares us for the days to come. Verse 3
speaks of God’s restoration as a result of being fed and rested, then His
onward leading into paths of righteousness. It is a chain reaction: rest, restoration, then leading. Sometimes, we are ready to plod onto our path when our Shepherd is calling us to rest. While most of us would welcome a rest, our natural tendency is to find a sense of fulfillment in a packed schedule. Now, before you think you must clear your calendar to find rest, let me say that ALL of Psalm 23 is spiritual. My day may be busy, but my heart can still rest in God. The problem is that our day usually sets the tone for our heart, and that is where God steps in and calls us to green pastures and still waters.
So how can we know if we are in the right pasture? The psalm is clear that it will be green. A Hebrew word study says this: "A green pasture in Hebrew is dasha. The spelling of this word reveals a built in commentary, the word itself will tell us what these green pastures are. The word is spelled Daleth which is a portal to the Shin, a resting place in the Aleph – God’s heart. Note that David says that God makes or causes him to find a resting place in His heart. God is the one who opens this portal." Clearly, rest is a result of accepting an invitation from the Shepherd. Not just an invitation to kick your feet up and let someone else eek it out for a while...but a rest that is found in knowing His heart. In the mundane, the seemingly insignificant, and the utterly chaotic, God's heart remains a source of strength and rest for someone simply willing to trust the Shepherd enough to follow Him and to know that His pasture provides rest for our souls.
Another landmark of green pastures is still waters. In a chaotic world, we are all bound to look around at times and realize our plates are not only full...they are grossly overloaded and dripping onto the floor. And since we can't even carry it with both hands, we have grabbed a cart and scooped up a couple other plates, too. Again, I will never imply that rest means inactivity, but chaos and still waters are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. And since the Shepherd's call to green pastures is a call into His heart, we can assume the still waters there are a product of His heart, as well. A still spirit flows from resting in what I know of God from His Word...not as a list of facts, but as a personal encounter and fellowship with Him.
So, I must ask myself this question: Is my spirit still? Matthew 12 tells us that great multitudes followed Jesus and that He healed them. Then verse 16 says that He charged them to not make Him known that the prophecy would be fulfilled concerning Him: v. 18 "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put MY SPIRIT upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles." If we feel like everything is riding on us, and that the world needs to know it, we are not acting in His Spirit. Then, verse 19 describes the characteristics of the Spirit of God on Jesus: "He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets." Jesus can calm the waters of this world and its inevitable storms, but His intention is that we enter the storm with His Spirit of calm. That is exercising ultimate faith in Him and His Word.
In spiritual battle, it is sometimes very difficult to remain spiritual. Our flesh is eager to strive and let our voice be heard in the streets. I think it is because we know the valley of the shadow of death is coming. However, we CAN exemplify His Spirit. We CAN exercise faith in His Word to lead us through. He has lead us straight to His heart, and His desire is to feed us and calm us for the days ahead.
So how can we know if we are in the right pasture? The psalm is clear that it will be green. A Hebrew word study says this: "A green pasture in Hebrew is dasha. The spelling of this word reveals a built in commentary, the word itself will tell us what these green pastures are. The word is spelled Daleth which is a portal to the Shin, a resting place in the Aleph – God’s heart. Note that David says that God makes or causes him to find a resting place in His heart. God is the one who opens this portal." Clearly, rest is a result of accepting an invitation from the Shepherd. Not just an invitation to kick your feet up and let someone else eek it out for a while...but a rest that is found in knowing His heart. In the mundane, the seemingly insignificant, and the utterly chaotic, God's heart remains a source of strength and rest for someone simply willing to trust the Shepherd enough to follow Him and to know that His pasture provides rest for our souls.
Another landmark of green pastures is still waters. In a chaotic world, we are all bound to look around at times and realize our plates are not only full...they are grossly overloaded and dripping onto the floor. And since we can't even carry it with both hands, we have grabbed a cart and scooped up a couple other plates, too. Again, I will never imply that rest means inactivity, but chaos and still waters are on the opposite ends of the spectrum. And since the Shepherd's call to green pastures is a call into His heart, we can assume the still waters there are a product of His heart, as well. A still spirit flows from resting in what I know of God from His Word...not as a list of facts, but as a personal encounter and fellowship with Him.
So, I must ask myself this question: Is my spirit still? Matthew 12 tells us that great multitudes followed Jesus and that He healed them. Then verse 16 says that He charged them to not make Him known that the prophecy would be fulfilled concerning Him: v. 18 "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put MY SPIRIT upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles." If we feel like everything is riding on us, and that the world needs to know it, we are not acting in His Spirit. Then, verse 19 describes the characteristics of the Spirit of God on Jesus: "He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets." Jesus can calm the waters of this world and its inevitable storms, but His intention is that we enter the storm with His Spirit of calm. That is exercising ultimate faith in Him and His Word.
In spiritual battle, it is sometimes very difficult to remain spiritual. Our flesh is eager to strive and let our voice be heard in the streets. I think it is because we know the valley of the shadow of death is coming. However, we CAN exemplify His Spirit. We CAN exercise faith in His Word to lead us through. He has lead us straight to His heart, and His desire is to feed us and calm us for the days ahead.
"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Then are they glad because they be quiet;
so he bringeth them unto their desired haven." Psalm 107:29-30
