Lent Day 12

Psalm 23:1-3

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

Psalm 23 is a familiar Psalm.  It is filled with beautiful promises from God to take care of us, and how he personally attends to us individually.   When we read through these first 3 lines we realize He wants only what is best for us.

The Lord is referred to as a shepherd or one that diligently provides for, cares for and protects those In His flock.   He constantly watches over us, anticipates our needs, provides for our needs, leads us away from danger and comforts us when we are hurt. It is God, all sufficient in all matters, that is shepherding us.  He is the one looking over us, guiding, protecting and providing for us.  What more could we want?  

I shall not want – not only do we not want for anything but this also implies that we will be supplied with whatever we need.  He provides great and small to fulfill what ever it is we will need for our day to live the life He intends for us.  

He makes me lie down in green pastures – God gives us comfort and support.  Green pastures represent food given to His people,  the word of life that is nourishment for all that come to Him.  A green pasture represents something that is never barren, never eaten bare and never parched but always abundantly full of nourishment for us to feed in.  God makes us lie down in His green pastures to give us quiet contentment for our souls and minds.  For His pasture is a place to fill us with our every need and a place that will never be depleted of His nourishment.  

He leads me beside still waters – When we are thirsty He leads us to quiet waters, streams that flow with living waters of Him.  He does not lead us to standing waters that are filthy, to troubled waters of a sea or rapid rolling rivers.  But instead He leads us to quiet waters that are gentle, peaceful, waters that call you to it, that are refreshing.  Still waters are gently guided in a certain direction, just like God guides us by His word through the Holy Spirit and directs us in the way we should go. 

He leads me in paths of righteousness – The most pleasant path we can take is the path God intends for us and He will lead us to that path and through it.  His path is full of peace, love, guidance, protection, comfort, joy…the list can go on and on.   Why wouldn’t we want to live each day living by His instruction and His direction?  

He restores my soul – Like sheep,  we can easily stray from His path and not be able to find our way back.  But when we stray, God shows us our way back to Him.  He restores our soul by  showing us our error, forgiving us, helping us to repent and leading us back onto His path. God may allow us to fall away from Him, but He will not allow us to stay there if we search for Him. 

These are such beautiful words of God’s promise to us throughout our life if we will seek Him.   Words that give us such great confidence He will care for us.   Take some time today and rest in His green pasture.  

Peace and love,

LeAnn