Psalm 23:2,3
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Jesus claims he is our “good shepherd” and so this week we are pondering the 23rd Psalm about the good shepherd. Yesterday we looked at the context. Our context is right now, not tomorrow. The psalm is actually talking about how we can depend on the Lord to be present today, not just in the future or in heaven. His presence in my trials of today means that in the circumstances I face there is food and peace, green pastures and quiet waters, that restores my soul. So how does that happen? What are the verbs that are active in the present context?
The Lord “makes me lie down.” As an independent American, a product of the baby boomer generation when women are empowered and demonstrate for gender equality, the word “make” certainly causes me to stop and think. Faith by its very nature is the act of me submitting my will to a higher power, to the Lord. Faith is not automatic and often involves internal wrestling with my natural tendencies. I don’t necessarily want to forgive that person who has hurt me or mine. When the kids were learning to drive they loved to look over my shoulder and remind me when I had the peddle to the medal. If love and forgiveness were easy we would not have wars around the world, starvation and inequality. The choice to follow the kingdom of heaven is a choice to submit to the leadership of the Lord. I would prefer to say “he enables me to lie down” but in truth sometimes “he makes me lie down” and I don’t always understand his wisdom.
By similar reasoning, the Lord leads me. I would not choose widowhood or disease but in the midst of the trials I walk through during life, I believe he mediates and protects me from the full power of evil. He is there leading me on a path only he can see to a destination only he knows is best. Again, my faith is stretched and I grow in this process but indeed, sometimes I have growing pains.
The Lord “refreshes” my soul. Anger hurts and weighs me down as much as too many sweets. When I am able to turn over to him my burdens, my soul is refreshed. When I force myself to focus on his word rather than my worries, my soul is refreshed. When I get outside and see his works, my soul is refreshed. Community love and laughter refreshes my soul. I love music. The Lord refreshes me better than coffee that stimulates.
The Lord guides my feet for his glory, not my glory. I need guidance and not just for taxes at this time of the year. I need guidance in dealing with my kids. I need more than medical guidance for aging. I pray the Lord gets the glory.
So perhaps as you reflect today you may sense the tension of submitting your will or perhaps a fogginess in his leading or a weariness in your souls that needs refreshing or you just need guidance. The Lord can meet all of us as we face our challenges. I would agree that the Lord is a “good shepherd.”
On the Way to Wonder 