“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2 New King James Version)
He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.” (Psalm 23:2 The Passion Translation)
“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.” (Psalm 23:2 New Living Translation)
“He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.” (Psalm 23:2 Amplified Bible)
“He will make me lie upon lush pastures and he will lead me by restful waters.” (Psalm 23:2 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
“He hath set me in a place of pasture. He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment.” (psalm 23;2 Douay-Rheims Bible)
Verse 2 of Psalm 23 flows out of the identity of my Shepherd given in verse 1. A good shepherd will take his flock to the best possible feeding grounds. It is the shepherd’s responsibility to make sure that the sheep feel safe and protected. If they are overly nervous they will not feed and rest as needed. This can lead to a number of health issues. Agitated sheep become erratic in their behavior. This behavior leads to injury and makes them easier to be overcome by predators. By leading them into an environment in which a bountiful supply of food and clean water is available, the shepherd is keeping his flock physically healthy. By providing them with a safe and restful environment the shepherd is providing them with mental and emotional stability. As the sheep know that they are free from any lack, and safe from any harm, they live the carefree, healthy, blessed life that the shepherd has prepared for them.
I especially like the Passion Translation rendering of verse 2. It paints a picture for me of what it must have been like for Adam and Eve living in the garden. It was a “luxurious” place to live. It also reminds me of what it will be like in the New Jerusalem when my Daddy will once again live with me in the new heaven and earth. However, even more important, it paints a picture of how my Daddy wants me to live today. Even though I am currently surrounded by the Kingdom of Darkness, which is wreaking havoc on this earth, it is my Daddy’s (my Good Shepherd) design and desire that I live from His Kingdom which is already within me. I have the availability of living from the inside, in which I am already in the garden, the New Jerusalem, and seated in heavenly places in Christ.
As I begin to see myself safe and secure in the care of my Shepherd I begin to experience the peace which passes all understanding which keeps guard over my heart and mind. By meditating on Psalm 23:2, I am able to renew my mind, which in turn, releases what I possess into my surrounding environment transforming me and my world. I begin to live from the peace of the “quiet brook of bliss.”
I need to stop here, and confront what I believe to be one of the most effective ways in which the enemy has robbed us of the full impact of Psalm 23. By having us use this Psalm as the universal funeral Psalm we have created a subconscious view of this Psalm as a Psalm of comfort for those who have lost a loved one to death. The result is that when we read it we think in terms of “Heaven.” This Psalm is NOT describing a promise of what we will experience after death. It is describing a state of mind for life today – in the here and now. There are no enemies standing in front of my banquet table in Heaven. To the Hebrew mind this verse is describing life with the Good Shepherd today. The culture of those writing the Psalms was all about emphasizing the blessing of living long, strong lives in which nothing is missing or broken, not dying and going to heaven some day. The Church has somehow given up on the Father’s design and desire for us today, and has relegated all of His “good stuff” to the future. I for one expect to fully partake of the promise of Psalm 23:2 today.
Let’s allow Psalm 23:2 to begin impacting our lives today as we ponder…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 205: Life With the Shepherd (Psalm 23): Part 3 – Verse 2