Psalm 23:2 - Green Pastures and Still Waters from the Lord.
Psalm 23:2 (KJV) He maketh me to lie down in
green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still
waters.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I keep hearing about the importance of a
morning routine - rituals repeated every morning to
jump-start our days with disciplined focus that puts us
on track for efficient use of our time. Many
recommended routines go in order like this: time with
Jesus, reading Scripture, and praying; quick
exercise and stretching; followed by eating something
nutritious for energy.
Mine, in my empty nest home, usually goes
more like this: I let the dog out and stumble
into the kitchen to make coffee, then feed my
demanding dog and the equally demanding cat, sip my
first cup of coffee as I put away some kitchen
clutter, wipe off the counters, and water the wilting
plant on the windowsill. I quickly check text
messages to be sure nothing drastic happened
overnight or find out whether somebody needs something
from me right then.
It's a routine I call fuddling, my
made-up word that's a combination of fiddling and
muddling, which means puffing things in order so
they're not a distraction. By the time I pour my
second cup of coffee and sit down at the end of the
kitchen counter, my perch where I talk to Jesus in
the mornings,
I'm ready.
I reach for my Bible and open the
computer to my Spiritual Reflections file where I
journal my thoughts. My fuddling has been my
early-morning physical and spiritual warm-up that prepares
a place for me in the green pastures of my
home, free from distractions, where the Shepherd
restores my soul.
In the stillness of green pastures, You
feed my soul with love and grace and guidance, no
matter what time I get there. Carol Kuykendall
[Walking in Grace 2021 Devotional by Guideposts and
Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. The
Christian life has two elements in it, the
contemplative and the active, and both of these are richly
provided for. First, the contemplative.
He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures. WHAT ARE THESE "GREEN PASTURES" BUT THE
SCRIPTURES OF TRUTH -- ALWAYS FRESH, ALWAYS RICH, AND
NEVER EXHAUSTED? There is no fear of biting the
bare ground where the grass is long enough for
the flock to lie down in it. Sweet and full are
the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls,
as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep.
When by faith we are enabled to find rest in the
promises, we are like the sheep that lie down in the
midst of the pasture; we find at the same moment
both provender and peace, rest and refreshment,
serenity and satisfaction. But observe: "He maketh me
to lie down." It is the Lord who graciously
enables us to perceive the preciousness of his
truth, and to feed upon it. How grateful ought we
to be for the power to appropriate the
promises! There are some distracted souls who would
give worlds if they could but do this. They know
the blessedness of it, but they cannot say that
this blessedness is theirs. They know the "green
pastures", but they are not made to "lie down" in them.
Those believers who have for years enjoyed a "full
assurance of faith" should greatly bless their
gracious God.
The second part of a vigorous Christian's
life consists in gracious activity. We not only
think, but we act. We are not always lying down to
feed, but are journeying onward toward perfection;
hence we read, he leadeth me beside the still
waters. WHAT ARE THESE "STILL WATERS" BUT THE
INFLUENCES AND GRACES OF HIS BLESSED SPIRIT? HIS SPIRIT
ATTENDS US IN VARIOUS OPERATIONS, LIKE WATERS -- IN
THE PLURAL -- TO CLEANSE, TO REFRESH, TO
FERTILISE, TO CHERISH. THEY ARE "STILL WATERS", FOR THE
HOLY GHOST LOVES PEACE, AND SOUNDS NO TRUMPET OF
OSTENTATION IN HIS OPERATIONS. He may flow into our
soul, but not into our neighbour's, and therefore
our neighbour may not perceive the divine
presence; and though the blessed Spirit may be pouring
his floods into one heart, yet he that sitteth
next to the favoured one may know nothing of it.
"In sacred silence of the mind My heaven,
and there my God I find."
Still waters run deep. Nothing more noisy
than an empty drum. That silence is golden indeed
in which the Holy Spirit meets with the souls
of his saints. Not to raging waves of strife,
but to peaceful streams of holy love does the
Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. He is a
dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.
Our Lord leads us beside these "still waters;"
we could not go there of ourselves, we need his
guidance, therefore it is said, "he leadeth me." He
does not drive us. Moses drives us by the law,
but Jesus leads us by his example, and the
gentle drawing of his love.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/treasury-of-david/psalms-23-2.html
EXAMPLE AND ILLUSTRATION
In many ways Catherine Marshall's life
was a dream come true. She attended the college
of her dreams, Agnes Scott College, and married
the man of her dreams, Peter Marshall, preacher
and eventual chaplain of the U.S. Senate.
But when Catherine contracted
tuberculosis and remained bedridden for more than two
years, her dreams seemed shattered. During that
time of stillness, journaling, and questioning,
Psalm 23 came alive to her. In a foundational
moment, she accepted her time of forced stillness as
preparation for what God had in store. Within six months
after this realization, she was declared
completely healed.
She said, "I can see now that my being
forced to lie down in the green pastures beside
very still waters indeed"the isolation of our
bedroom"was a time of training. Day by day God was the
teacher and I, the pupil.
God's preparation at her bedside bore
itself out. Her more than twenty books have sold
over sixteen million copies. She's well known for
her biography of her late husband, A Man Called
Peter. Perhaps even more so, she's remembered for
her novel Christy, a story inspired by her own
mother's work with mountain children of Appalachia.
How many times do we face difficulties
that alter the itinerary of our lives, only to
find the detour was actually God's path? Whatever
we are facing, we can listen for God's word for
us within that situation. He will renew our
strength.
Catherine Marshall (1914-1983), author of
numerous books, including Christy and A Man Called
Peter, was the wife of Peter Marshall and mother to
author Peter John Marshall. [The One Year Bible
Live Verse Devotional re vv. 2, 3]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Lie down in green pastures of Peace.
Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting in the
Presence of your Shepherd. This electronic age keeps
My children "wired" much of the time, too tense
to find Me in the midst of their moments. I
built into your very being the need for rest. How
twisted the world has become when people feel guilty
about meeting this basic need! How much time and
energy they waste by being always on the go, rather
than taking time to seek My direction for their
lives.
I have called you to walk with Me down
paths of Peace. I want you to blaze a trail for
others who desire to live in My peaceful Presence.
I have chosen you less for your strengths than
for your weaknesses, which amplify your need for
Me. Depend on Me more and more, and I will
shower Peace on all your paths. (Psa. 23:1-3; Gen.
2:2-3; Luke 1:79) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE
Psalm 23:2 - One Of The Crown Jewels Of
Scripture - verse 2.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2003/20030206-0945.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio:
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
