Psalms 23:2 - 3 “He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
(3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his
name's sake.”
The Psalmist begins with “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Verse 1 The word “Shepherd”
carries a lot of thought, and to us who are believers in Jesus Christ it
carries many thoughts. It means that Jesus is the Supreme caretaker of the flock,
He loves us with every inch of His being and is the Sovereign Supreme supplier
of our ever need. In this world it is easy to forget who controls the entire
universe. It is easy to, in our most troublesome time to forget that Jesus
cares for us and He will never forsake us or leave us to ourselves, A Great Shepperd
never leaves His sheep, ever! Jesus loved us when the Father chose us before
the foundation of the world. We were the greatest gift the Father ever gave to
Him, and He is the greatest gift the Father ever gave to us. W.E. Vine says this name “Shepperd” goes much
farther than a leader, Vine says it also means “the supreme protector and
leader of the nation” that is God’s Chosen Nation Spiritual Israel or Gods
elect. He is our protector and supplies our ever need. It is easy to get caught-up
in the worlds thinking and thinking that we must worry and concern ourselves
with worldly happenings, even happenings in our own life, but remember who the
Great Sheppard is and that He will supply our every need. David wrote “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.” V. 2 We do not make it ourselves,
God did not leave it up to us to figure it all out. He leads us to the green
pastures He has prepared for us. If we believe in the predestination of God,
then everything in our life is pre-ordained. Paul wrote proof of this in Ephesians
1:11 “In whom also we have obtained
an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will:” God works ALL THINGS after
the counsel of His own will, that’s how He MAKES us lie down in green pastures.
Even in heaven He has a place prepared for us. “… I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:2 Sometimes we may forget
these things, but remember God promised us these things, He has your life and
will never let you go it alone. “… I will
never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5 David also
promised in verse 3 “He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” The
word “restoreth” means - to turn back – He turns me back from sinfulness and
causes me to be righteous in His eyes. See the word “Shepperd” in verse 1 also
carries the thought of “a mediator between God and man” according to W.E. Vine.
It is His being a Mediator that restores us, a bridge between a Righteous God
and sinful people. It is He that leads us to the paths of righteousness,
something we cannot do ourselves. God said it best in Isaiah 42:16 “And I will bring the blind by a way that
they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make
darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do
unto them, and not forsake them.” David finished with these words, “for his
name's sake” Everything God does is for His glory, we are simply the benefactors
of His glory. Praise God!!!
