Psalm 23
Week 2 He makes me rest in green pastures; He restores my soul
The Lord is my Shepherd; I do not lack
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
Psalm 23:2
In the natural, the only time a restless sheep can lie down and rest is when it sees the Shepherd. The same is true of us. When we have our eyes on our good Shepherd, Jesus, He causes us to lie down and rest. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. As we look to Him, He gives us the ability to truly trust Him.
Hebrews 12:1,2: let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…NIV
Phillipians 2:13: [not in your own strength]… Amp 13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. NLT
Hebrews 4: 3;14-16: 3Now we who have believed enter that rest, 14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are- yet without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Ezekiel 34:15: I will feed my sheep and cause them to lie down, says the Lord God. AMP
Psalm 4:8: In peace I will both lie down and sleep for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust AMP
Jesus makes it possible for you to lie down to rest, relax, and to flourish in green pastures. Green pastures represent the promised land; a land flowing with abundance. Your good shepherd makes you lie down and rest in the promises of abundance you have in Him. He is El Shaddai: The God that is more than enough.
John 10:9,10 9 Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. NLT ..that they might enjoy life and have it in abundance… AMP
2 Peter 1:2-4 : 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” NLT
He leads me beside peaceful waters. He is Jehovah Shalom: The Lord my peace
The shepherd leads his sheep to fresh water streams to satisfy their thirst, just as the Holy Spirit leads you to Jesus to satisfy your thirst and rivers of living water bring peace to your soul.
Jesus said in John 4:13, 14 & 6:32-35: Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. 14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up into eternal life.”
John 7:37-38: In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. KJV
To drink means, “to take in,” to accept, to believe. That is to say that a person accepts and assimilates the very life of God in Christ to the point where it becomes a part of Him. Only the Spirit and the life of Christ can satisfy the thirsty soul. You are lead by God’s spirit because you are His sheep. He leads you to the truth (Jesus) and that truth sets you free from fear and the sense of lack. Jesus becomes your meat and drink as His resurrection overcoming life is imparted by the Holy Spirit you will be refreshed and satisfied.
The Lord is my Shepherd: He restores my soul.
There is a term that Shepherd’s use to call a sheep who is in distress. It is called a “cast down” sheep. This is a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself. Lying on its back with its feet in the air, frantically struggling to stand up without success. Only with the shepherd’s help can it get back on its feet. The same is true in our relationship with Jesus.
Psalm 42:11: 11 Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. NIV
11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! NLT
11Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the help of my countenance, and my God. AMP
Psalm 37:23-24: 23The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step]. 24Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.
Psalm 40:1-3: NLT 1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
Hebrews 2:18 18For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].
He is Jehovah Rophi: the healer of your heart. He restores your soul as you look to Him. Luke 4:18 : 18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted…Isaiah 61:3 3 and to provide for those who grieve in Zion—to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.