He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures

The strange thing about sheep is that it is almost impossible for them to lie down unless four requirements are met. To be at rest there must be a definite sense of freedom from fear, tension, aggravation and hunger. A flock that is restless, discontented, always agitated and disturbed never does well. 

I didn't realize sheep are so timid and easily panicked. Even a stray jackrabbit suddenly bouncing from behind a bush can stampede a whole flock. When one startled sheep runs in fright a dozen others will bolt in blind fear, not waiting to see what frightened them.

There is also constant conflict and jealousy within the flock - the "butting" order. The more aggressive sheep will maintain their positions of prestige by butting and driving other ewes and lambs away from the best grazing. All the sheep maintain their exact position within the flock by using the same tactics of butting and thrusting at those below and around them.

One point that always interested me very much what that whenever I came into view and my presence attracted their attention, the sheep quickly forgot their foolish rivalries and stopped their fighting. The shepherd's presence made all the difference in their behavior. My presence put an end to all rivalry. - Phillip Keller, Shepherd

The same is true of people.

In our human relationships, when we become aware of being in the presence of Christ, our foolish, selfish snobbery and rivalry ends. It is the humble heart walking quietly and contentedly in the companionship of Christ that we relax - simply being glad to rest and let the world go by. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

When our eyes are on our Master they are not on those around us. It's good to remind ourselves that in the end it is He who will decide and judge what our status really is. After all, it is His estimation of me that really matters. Any human measurement is bound to be pretty unpredictable, unreliable and far from final.

Not only does a good shepherd remove the fear, the tension, the aggravation and hunger, but he also provides the green pasture. In Palestine where David wrote Psalm 23, green pastures didn't just happen. Green pastures were the result of clearing rough, rocky land - tearing out brush and roots and stumps. Deep plowing and careful soil preparation was needed, seeding and planting special grains and legumes and irrigating with water.

Lots of work. He really cares.

He clears the rocks of stoney unbelief. He tears out the roots of bitterness. Like clay, He breaks up the hard, proud human heart. Then, He sows the seed of his Word and waters it with the dew and rain of His presence by the Holy Spirit. He tends and cares and cultivates the life, longing to see it become rich and green and productive. These are the efforts of a Shepherd who wants to see His sheep satisfied and well fed. His concern for our care is beyond our comprehension. All we can do is lie down and enjoy it.

I Shall Not Want

[Continued]

One of the misconceptions that is common among Christians today is the assertion that if a man or woman is prospering materially it is a significant mark of the blessing of God upon their lives. This simply is not so. Based on the teachings of the Bible we can only conclude that David was not referring to material or physical poverty when he made the statement, "I shall not want."

To grasp the inner significance of this simple statement it is necessary to understand the difference between belonging to one master or another - to the Good Shepherd or to an imposter. Jesus made it quite clear that it is impossible to serve two masters. One either belonged to Him or to another.

"The tenant sheepman on the farm next to my first ranch was the most indifferent manager I had ever met. He was not concerned about the condition of his sheep. They fell prey to dogs, cougars and wolves. Every year these poor creatures were forced to gnaw away at bare brown fields and impoverished pastures. They only had polluted, muddy water to drink. I can still see them standing at the fence, huddled sadly in little knots, staring wistfully through the wires at the rich pastures on the other side. I never looked at those poor sheep without an acute awareness that this was a precise picture of those wretched old imposters, Sin and Satan - scoffing at the plight of those within their power."

Contrast that with the Shepherd to whom no trouble is too great as He cares for His flock. He is the rancher who is outstanding because of His fondness for sheep - who loves them for their own sake as well as his personal pleasure in them. He will, if necessary, be on the job twenty-four hours per day to see that they are properly provided for in every detail. Above all, He is very jealous of His name and high reputation as "The Good Shepherd." This is a perfect picture of the care given to those whose lives are under Christ's control. He knows all about their lives from morning to night.

In spite of having a perfect Master and Owner, the fact remains that some Christians are still not content with His control. They are somewhat dissatisfied, always feeling that somehow the grass beyond the protective fence must be a little greener. These are "fence crawlers" who want the best of both worlds.

"I once owned a sheep whose conduct exactly typified this sort of person. She was one of the most attractive sheep that ever belonged to me. Her body was beautifully proportioned. She had a strong constitution and an excellent coat of wool. Her head was clean, alert, well-set with bright eyes. She bore sturdy lambs that matured rapidly. But in spite of all these attractive attributes she had one pronounced fault. She was restless - discontented - a fence crawler. This one ewe produced more problems for me than almost all the rest of the flock combined.

No matter what field or pasture the sheep were in, she would search all along the fences looking for a loophole she could crawl through and start to feed on the other side. It was not that she lacked pasturage. My fields were my joy and delight. No sheep in the district had better grazing. But with this sheep it was an ingrained habit. She never learned her lesson, despite the bare, brown, burned-up pasturage on the other side of the fence. Even worse was the example she set for the other sheep. In a short time she began to lead others through the same holes and over the same dangerous paths down by the sea. 

After putting up with her perverseness for a summer I finally came to the conclusion that to save the rest of the flock from becoming unsettled, she would have to go. I could not allow one obstinate, discontented ewe to ruin the whole ranch operation. It was a difficult decision to make, for I loved her in the same way I loved the rest. Her strength and beauty and alertness were a delight to the eyes.

But one morning I took the killing knife in hand and butchered her. Her career of fence crawling was cut short. It was the only solution to the dilemma. She was a sheep, who in spite of all that I had done to give her the very best care - still wanted something else."

What a vivid reminder. No field is more lush, more green, more safe, more abundant than the field owned by the Good Shepherd. We can stop running. We can stop striving. We can sleep well, confident in His protection and provision.

Knowing this gives me a richness of spirit - a serene confidence and quiet joy. Contentment. Peace.

The Lord is my Shepherd - I shall not want.

The Lord is my Shepherd

I read a book a few years ago called, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller.

Keller grew up and lived in East Africa, surrounded by simple native herders whose customs closely resembled those of their counterparts in the Middle East. As a young man, he made his living as a sheep owner and sheep rancher. Consequently, he writes as one who has had firsthand experience with every phase of sheep management - just like David, the author of Psalm 23. 

His insight is fascinating. I'll break down each phrase of the Psalm in separate posts...

"The Lord is my Shepherd"

It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways: Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, and our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance. Yet despite all these adverse characteristics Christ chooses us, buys us, calls us by name, makes us His own and delights in caring for us. How amazing it is that individual men and women vehemently refuse and reject the claims of Christ on their lives. They fear that to acknowledge His ownership is to come under the rule of a tyrant. This is difficult to comprehend when one pauses to consider the character of Christ. An unbiased look at His life quickly reveals an individual of enormous compassion and incredible integrity. He never hesitated to make it quite clear that when an individual once came under His management and control there would be a certain new and unique relationship between Him and them. There would be something very special about belonging to this particular Shepherd. There would be a distinct mark upon the man or woman that differentiated them from the rest of the crowd. 

"The day I bought my first thirty ewes, my neighbor and I sat on the dusty corral rails that enclosed the sheep pens and admired the choice, strong, well-bred ewes that had become mine. Turning to me, he handed me a large, sharp killing knife and remarked tersely, "Well, Phillip, they're yours. Now you'll have to put your mark on them." I knew exactly what he meant. Each sheep-man had his own distinctive earmark which he cuts into one or other of the ears of his sheep. In this way, even at a distance, it is easy to determine to whom the sheep belongs. 

It was not the most pleasant procedure to catch each ewe in turn and lay her ear on a wooden block then notch it deeply with the razor-sharp edge of the knife. There was pain for both of us. But from our mutual suffering an indelible lifelong mark of ownership was made that could never be erased. And from then on every sheep that came into my possession would bear my mark."

For the man or woman who recognizes the claim of Christ and gives allegiance to His absolute ownership, there comes the question of bearing His mark. The mark of the cross is that which should identify us with Himself for all time. The question is - does it?

It is a most serious and sobering transfer of ownership which should make us search our own hearts and motives...

Do I really belong to Him?
Do I really recognize His right to me?
Do I respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership?
Do I find freedom and complete fulfillment in this arrangement?
Do I sense a purpose and deep contentment because I'm under His direction?

If so, then with genuine gratitude we can exclaim proudly, just as David did, "The Lord is my Shepherd!" I will flourish and thrive no matter what life may bring to me.