HE MAKETH ME TO LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES

Resting In The Lord

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 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. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Have you ever lain awake at night, desperately wanting to sleep, but for some reason, sleep just wouldn’t come? You toss, you turn, your mind races through every detail of the day, every concern about tomorrow. It’s night, it’s dark outside, and it’s time to sleep. But you’re awake with worry, anxiety, and concern. You want to rest, but you just can't seem to find it. Your body is tired, but your soul is restless.

The unfinished business of the day will keep you up at night.

The weight of tomorrow’s worries will interrupt your sleep.

Fear of the unknown, the “what ifs” or “what could be” are racing in your head.

We’ve all been there. We’ve all had our share of sleepless nights. Even King David. Some Biblical scholars believe that David may have written the 23rd Psalm when he was a fugitive, fleeing for his life from King Saul. You remember the story: David kills Goliath, and the people of Israel celebrate him, singing, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). Right then and there, Saul becomes jealous and sees David as a threat. Can I tell you something about jealousy? JEALOUSY

Some people think jealousy is cute. Some believe that if their spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend isn’t jealous, something is wrong. But let me tell you, jealousy is many things, and cute isn’t one of them. In my life, I have seen jealousy cause a husband to shoot his wife. I’ve seen jealousy destroy families, tear apart communities, and even split churches.

Jealousy will turn friends into enemies. It will make you suspicious of innocent things. It will drive away the people you love and blind you to your own strengths because you’re too focused on someone else’s. Jealousy drove Saul to try to kill David. He first tried by hurling a spear while David played the harp (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Later, Saul put David in dangerous battle assignments, hoping the Philistines would kill him. Jealousy even led Saul to manipulate his son Jonathan into killing David, but Jonathan, out of loyalty, warned David instead (1 Samuel 19:1). Twice, Saul threw his spear at David while he played music to soothe him (1 Samuel 19:9-10). Saul sent soldiers to David’s house to capture and kill him, but David’s wife, Michal—Saul’s daughter—helped him escape through a window (1 Samuel 19:11-17).

THE NEED FOR SLEEP

David, helpless like a sheep with no protection, was a sitting duck, waiting for Saul to kill him. Yet, he sits down and writes these words: Psalm 23:1-2. Though physically defenseless, David feels spiritually secure. His life is out of control, but he knows that God is still in control. While Saul and his army are chasing him, David lays his head down in a cave and sleeps.

I don’t know what’s keeping you up at night, but whatever it is, give it to Jesus, lay your head down, and go to sleep. When your physical body is weak and tired, your spirit becomes vulnerable. Your body and spirit are connected, and when your body is exhausted, it’s harder to maintain spiritual focus, emotional resilience, and mental clarity.

When miracle-working Elijah was tired, he ran into the desert and wanted to die. When Moses was tired from leading the people, he became overwhelmed by the burden of responsibility. When Jonah was fleeing from God’s call, he was so weary that he fell into a deep sleep in the middle of a storm. Even Jesus, when tired, slept through a raging storm in the boat. When David was exhausted from fleeing Saul, he rested in a cave, trusting God for peace and safety.

When was it that the devil came to tempt Jesus? After He had fasted for 40 days. When you push yourself too far, you lose discernment. When you run too much, you forget to pray. No matter how young, strong, or healthy you are, lack of sleep and physical exhaustion will make you spiritually weak. Even God rested on the seventh day after creating for six days. Rest is not a luxury, it’s a spiritual necessity.

W. Phillip Keller, a shepherd, noted that sheep are anxious creatures. To lie down and rest, four conditions must be met: they must be free from fear, relieved of tensions, away from aggravation, and not hungry. David was running for his life, hiding in a cave, yet he could still say, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

When David declared, “The Lord is my shepherd,” he wasn’t just reciting a poem; he was speaking from experience. David could sleep in a cave not because his circumstances were perfect but because his faith was in a God who had been faithful. Saul threw a spear at David twice, but he missed twice. Saul sent his own son to kill David, but Jonathan warned him. When David faced Goliath, God gave him victory with a single stone. Through every trial, God provided protection, guidance, and a way of escape.

David’s life was filled with trials, but he was a man after God’s heart, constantly drawn to worship. Even when hiding in caves or fleeing from Saul, David would lift his voice in praise. It was David who said, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1). It was David who said, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him” (Psalm 42:11).

David wasn’t content to survive; he wanted to dwell in God’s presence. He said, “One thing I ask of the Lord… that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life” (Psalm 27:4). Even when exhausted, David found rest in worship. His spirit could lie down in green pastures because worship connected him to the source of peace.

THE PRESENCE OF THE SHEPHERD

In every flock of sheep, there’s always an older sheep that bullies the younger ones. The younger sheep get frustrated and start fighting each other. But when the shepherd shows up, the fighting stops. There’s just something about being in the presence of the shepherd.

David also said, “He leads me beside the still waters.” Sheep are so timid that rushing water scares them, and they’re so clueless that they’ll drink from any water hole, even if it’s dirty or poisoned. That’s why the shepherd must lead them to clean, still water.

We are the sheep, and God is our shepherd. Like sheep, we keep trying to quench our thirst with things that don’t satisfy. Have you ever been really thirsty and reached for a soda, only to find that it didn’t satisfy you? But when you drank cold water, it quenched your thirst. Water is what your body craves—it’s what you really need. In the same way, only the Holy Spirit can quench the deep thirst of your soul. Jesus said, “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst” (John 4:14).

I’m reminded of the novel The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It teaches us that sometimes what we need is closer than we think. Like the shepherd in the novel who searched far for treasure only to find it buried at home, we often search for fulfillment in the wrong places when the Holy Spirit has been within us all along.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. My God will supply all of my needs according to His riches in glory.

When my supply runs low, I don’t worry because my supplier never runs out and always provides exactly what I need, right on time.

There is always a source, and when the well runs dry, we have to return to the spring that feeds it.

Just like a river may slow or dry up in drought, you have to tap into the underground spring.

In this life, when you feel empty or depleted, go back to the Source.

God is the joy and the source of my life.

All these other things will never quench your thirst.

Your source is not man; it is God.

Your source is not your money.

Your source is not your position.

Your source is not your title.

Your source is not your ministry.

Your source is not your education.

All those thinks came from the supplier and the supplier is God.

He can do exceedingly and abundantly above all you ask or think according to the power that works in you.

When God is the source, you will have plenty amid famine.

God's word will lead and direct you.

My supplies may be dry up, but my supplier up in heaven is still fill up.

And my God will supply your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Acording to James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

God is the giver.

The doctor that operates on you was created by God.

The brains that got him through medical school was given by God.

The elements in the medicine that he prescribes were created by God.

So I don’t get bent out of shape when my supplies dry up, because God is my supplier.

And my supplier, my God will supplier all of my needs according to his riches in glory.

I shall not want because the Lord is my shepherd and he makes me lie down in green pasture. He leadeth me beside the still water.

Keep you eyes on God.

God is the source.

Money you can buy a house, but God makes it a home; With money you can buy a clock, but God makes the time;

Money you can buy a book, but your knowledge comes God.

Money you can buy blood, but God is giver of life.

You can try to buy friends, but real love comes from God.

Money can buy you a soft bed, but peaceful sleep comes God.

Money can buy you fine clothes to look good on the outside, but good character on inside comes from God.

Money will buy you a bed BUT NOT sleep.

Books BUT NOT brains.

Food BUT NOT appetite.

Finery BUT NOT beauty.

A house BUT NOT a home.

Medicine BUT NOT health.

Luxuries BUT NOT culture.

Amusement BUT NOT happiness.

A crucifix to wear around your neck BUT NOT a Saviour in your heart.

A church-pew sit on BUT NOT heaven get in.

Money can buy land, but not love;

Bonds, but not brotherhood;

Gold, but not gladness;

Silver, but not sincerity;

Hospitals, but not health;

Condominiums, but not character;

Timber, but not truth.

Commodities, but not comfort;

Ranches, but not righteousness;

Ships, but not salvation;

Hotels, but not heaven.

Money can buy a good life, but it won’t give you eternal life.

That’s why I don’t worry when these earthly supplies dry up.

I don’t worry about material supplies, because I know who my supplier is and his name is Jesus.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, the restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.