Psalm 23 — “He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures” Psalm 23

 

Psalm 23 — “He Maketh Me to Lie Down in Green Pastures”

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
— Psalm 23:2

When David wrote these words, he wasn't describing something he had only read about.

He had been a shepherd.

David knew what sheep were like.

Sheep don't always know when they have had enough. They can wander looking for food when there is already plenty around them. They can become restless, frightened, or confused.

A good shepherd knows when it is time for the sheep to stop and rest.

David had learned something about God through caring for sheep:

Sometimes the shepherd has to make the sheep lie down.

“He Maketh Me”

That little phrase is easy to overlook.

David doesn't say:

“I decided to lie down.”

He says:

“He maketh me to lie down.”

There are times when God allows circumstances to slow us down.

We may have plans.

We may think we know where we're going.

We may even think we need to keep moving.

But sometimes the Shepherd knows something we don't.

We need to stop.

We need to rest.

We need to be still.

And sometimes the only way we will become still is when God removes the opportunity to keep running.

Green Pastures

For a shepherd, green pasture meant more than something pretty to look at.

It meant food.

It meant the sheep could rest without worrying about where the next meal was coming from.

David understood provision.

The same David who had spent years running from Saul could look back and recognize that God had provided for him along the way.

God didn't give David the throne immediately.

There were years between the promise and its fulfillment.

But God gave David what he needed for each step along the way.

That is an important distinction.

God doesn't always give us everything we need at once.

But He knows what His sheep need.

“He Leadeth Me”

David doesn't say:

“He tells me where to go and then leaves me to figure it out.”

He says:

“He leadeth me.”

The shepherd doesn't simply point toward the pasture.

He goes with the sheep.

That makes the next part even more beautiful:

“He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

Sheep can be frightened by rushing water.

A shepherd knows where the sheep can safely drink.

Again, David is describing something he knew from experience.

The Shepherd knows where to lead.

The Shepherd Knows What We Need

There is something comforting about the order of this Psalm.

First:

“The LORD is my shepherd.”

Then:

“I shall not want.”

Then:

“He maketh me to lie down.”

Then:

“He leadeth me.”

David's confidence isn't in his own ability to find the right pasture or the right water.

His confidence is in the Shepherd.

That changes the way we can look at our own lives.

Sometimes we are anxious because we don't know where the next pasture is.

We don't know what tomorrow will bring.

We don't know how something is going to work out.

But the sheep doesn't have to know everything the shepherd knows.

The sheep needs to know the shepherd.

Sometimes Rest Is Part of the Leading

We often think of God's leading as movement:

Go here.
Do this.
Move forward.

But Psalm 23 begins with something different.

Rest.

Before David talks about walking through the valley, fighting enemies, or facing death, he talks about lying down.

Maybe there is a lesson there.

We can become so busy trying to figure out what God wants us to do next that we forget that sometimes He wants us simply to rest in what He has already done.

The Shepherd isn't nervous.

The Shepherd isn't confused.

The Shepherd isn't wondering where the next pasture is.

He knows.

“Still Waters”

The Shepherd doesn't lead His sheep to water that will frighten them.

He leads them to still waters.

There is a difference between simply having water and having a safe place to drink.

God's provision isn't careless.

He knows not only what we need, but how we need it.

David had experienced plenty of storms in his life.

Yet he could still write about still waters.

The peace wasn't necessarily the absence of trouble.

The peace came from knowing who was leading him.

A Thought to Carry With You

David knew what it was like to be responsible for sheep.

He also knew what it was like to be one of God's sheep.

And perhaps that is why Psalm 23 continues to speak so clearly.

The Shepherd provides.

The Shepherd makes us rest.

The Shepherd leads.

The Shepherd knows where the water is.

We don't have to see the entire journey.

We only have to follow the Shepherd.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

The sheep doesn't need a map.

The sheep needs a Shepherd, but remember the place where we find peace is in His Word. David was a special a person a person after God's on heart and King of Israel we find or still waters and green pastures in the Book.

Psalm 23: A Song Written by Experience Part 2

 

Psalm 23: A Song Written by Experience

Part 2 – "I Shall Not Want"

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
— Psalm 23:1 (KJV)

When David wrote, "I shall not want," he was not saying he had never experienced hardship. In fact, much of his life was marked by danger, uncertainty, and loss.

There were times when David had no palace to live in. He fled from Saul, hid in caves, depended on the kindness of others, and often did not know what the next day would bring. Yet through it all, he learned that the Lord never failed to provide exactly what he needed.

As a young shepherd, David watched over his father's sheep. He knew that a good shepherd searched for green pasture, found fresh water, and protected the flock from danger. The sheep depended entirely upon the shepherd.

Years later, David realized that he had been one of those sheep all along.

"I shall not want" does not mean God's people will possess everything they desire. It means that under the care of the Great Shepherd, they will never lack what God knows they truly need.

Looking back, David could see God's hand at every stage of his life.

• God provided strength to defeat Goliath.

• God provided Jonathan's friendship during lonely years.

• God provided protection while Saul pursued him.

• God provided faithful men who stood beside him in the wilderness.

• God provided forgiveness and restoration after David's greatest failure.

• God provided a kingdom according to His promise.

The Lord's provision was not always comfortable, but it was always sufficient.

David's confidence was not in his own ability, his army, or his wealth. His confidence rested in the Shepherd.

That same lesson still speaks today. Life may bring uncertainty, disappointments, or seasons when the future seems unclear. Yet the believer can rest in the same Shepherd who cared for David. Our wants are many, but God's provision is perfect. He knows our needs before we ask, and His care never fails.

David did not write, "I have never been in need." He wrote, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Those words came from a lifetime of watching God faithfully provide.

A Thought to Remember

David was in the time of God's covenant with Israel and he was a "man after God's on heart. This doesn't mean the Lord isn't there for you. Remember these golden verses. Philippians 4:5-7 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing (Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything [Amplified Bible, Classic])  but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Also 

Galatians 6:2

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."

The Greek word is βάρη (barē), the plural of βάρος (baros).

Meaning:

• A heavy weight.
• A crushing load.
• Something too heavy for one person to carry alone.

This is the kind of burden where a fellow believer should step in and help.

Galatians 6:5

"For every man shall bear his own burden."

The Greek word is φορτίον (phortion).

Meaning:

• A load.
• A pack or backpack.
• A personal assignment or responsibility.
• Something expected for one person to carry.

The same word is used by Jesus in Matthew 11:30:

"For my yoke is easy, and my burden (phortion) is light."

Easy to Believe, Not Always Easy to Live

 

One of the greatest misunderstandings for many believers is the idea that believing the gospel guarantees an easy life. It doesn't.

The gospel itself is wonderfully simple. The Apostle Paul declared it plainly:

"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel... how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1–4, KJV)

That is the heart of the gospel. Christ died for our sins. He was buried. He rose again the third day. Salvation is received by faith in His finished work—not by our works, our goodness, or our ability to keep religious rules.

Simple? Yes.

Shallow? Never.

Sometimes people confuse a simple gospel with an easy life. Those are not the same thing.

The disciples themselves struggled to understand many of the things Jesus taught. More than once, He told them He would suffer, die, and rise again. Yet after the resurrection John wrote:

"For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead." (John 20:9)

It wasn't because they had never heard the words. They had. They simply had not yet understood how all the Scriptures fit together. After the resurrection, Jesus opened the Scriptures and showed them that His suffering and His glory had been foretold all along.

That should encourage us.

If the men who walked with Jesus had questions, we shouldn't be discouraged when we have questions. The Christian life is one of continual learning as we grow in our understanding of God's Word.

But understanding the gospel and living the Christian life are two different things.

Believing the gospel doesn't mean our bodies will never hurt. It doesn't mean our loved ones will never become sick. It doesn't guarantee financial security or remove every trial.

Life still brings sorrow.

Life still brings pain.

Life still brings uncertainty.

The difference is that the believer no longer faces those things like in the past without hope or without God in the world, but now that Christ died for our sins and rose again, we know our sins are forgiven. We know death has been defeated. We know our future is secure in Him.

Just because I believe doesn't make life easier.

Jesus makes life livable.

When the burdens come, we know they are not the end of the story. We have a Savior who conquered the grave and a promise that what He began, He will complete.

The gospel is easy to believe because God has done the hard part. Christ finished the work at Calvary.

Living by faith is not always easy.

But because of Him, it is always worth it.

My Life Testimony by Vance Havner

 

What Wondrous Love Is This

 

When Leadership Fails: Lessons From Scripture About Authority and Trusting God

Throughout history, people have wrestled with a difficult question:

Why does God allow leaders to rise who seem unwise, unjust, or even evil?

The Bible does not ignore this question. In fact, Scripture records the failures of many leaders—not to excuse their actions, but to teach us important lessons.

At the same time, we must be careful. There is a difference between leadership that clearly violates God's Word and leadership that we simply disagree with or do not understand.

The Bible teaches us to examine carefully, respond wisely, and keep our trust in God.

God Records Failed Leadership as a Warning

The Bible does not hide the failures of its leaders.

King Saul began with promise but allowed pride and disobedience to take control.

King Ahab used his position to promote idolatry.

King Jehoiakim showed contempt for God's Word when he cut the scroll of Jeremiah and cast it into the fire.

These examples are not recorded because God approved of their actions. They are recorded because they reveal the consequences of rejecting God's authority.

Paul wrote:

"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition..."
(1 Corinthians 10:11)

God allows us to see failure so that we can learn from it.

Respecting Authority Does Not Mean Approving Everything

The Bible gives us a balanced view of authority.

David respected King Saul as the Lord's anointed, even though Saul treated him unjustly. David refused to take revenge because he trusted God's timing.

Jeremiah respected King Zedekiah, even while delivering a message that the king did not want to hear.

The apostles respected governing authorities, yet they also declared:

"We ought to obey God rather than men."
(Acts 5:29)

Scripture teaches both respect and conviction.

We can honor a position without agreeing with every decision made by the person holding that position.

Not Every Disagreement Means a Leader Is Evil

This is an important lesson as well.

Sometimes people judged leaders by their own expectations rather than by God's Word.

Joseph's brothers thought they were getting rid of him, but God was preparing him to save many lives.

David was viewed as a threat by Saul, but God was preparing David to become king.

Daniel lived under foreign rulers, yet he remained faithful while serving in their government.

A difficult situation does not always mean God has lost control.

God Works Even Through Difficult Times

When we look at history, we often see only one small piece of the picture.

A person may see only confusion, disappointment, or failure.

But God sees the entire tapestry.

The Bible shows that God can use even difficult circumstances to teach, correct, strengthen, and accomplish His purposes.

This does not mean God approves of evil.

It means evil does not have the final word.

Where Should Our Trust Be?

A leader of the people will always be imperfect.

Some will make mistakes.

Some will act selfishly.

Some will misuse authority.

Others may simply make decisions we do not understand.

But God's character never changes.

The lesson of Scripture is not to place our ultimate hope in human leaders.

Our hope must remain in the One who rules above all earthly kingdoms.

"The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."
(Psalm 103:19)

Leaders come and go.

Kingdoms rise and fall.

But the Psalmist cries out, "Forever O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven" Psalm 119:89.

Psalm 23: A Song Written by Experience and may be the best-known chapter in the Bible.

 

Psalm 23: A Song Written by Experience

"The LORD Is My Shepherd"

Few passages in Scripture are more familiar than Psalm 23. Many of us learned it as children, have heard it at funerals, or have turned to it during difficult times. But before it became one of the world's best-known psalms, it was the testimony of one man looking back over his life.

David did not write these words as a young shepherd boy watching sheep on the hills of Bethlehem. He wrote them as a man who had experienced both mountaintops and valleys. He had faced giants, fled from King Saul, hidden in caves, worn a crown, endured family heartbreak, and learned through every season that God never stopped caring for him.

When David wrote,

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

he wasn't speaking in theory. He was speaking from experience.

As a young shepherd, David understood what sheep were like. They were dependent, easily frightened, and unable to survive long without a shepherd's care. Every day he led them to pasture, found water, protected them from predators, and searched for those that wandered.

Years later, David realized he had been the sheep all along.

Looking back, he could see the hand of God guiding him when he did not understand where life was leading. As a young man, he could not have imagined standing before Goliath. He never planned on spending years running from Saul. He certainly did not expect the sorrow that followed his own failures. Yet through every chapter of his life, the Shepherd never abandoned him.

That first sentence is deeply personal.

David did not say, "The LORD is a shepherd."

He said, "The LORD is my shepherd."

Faith is not merely believing that God exists. It is trusting Him personally. David had learned that the God who created heaven and earth also cared about the details of one shepherd's life.

The same truth encourages believers today. Life rarely follows the path we expect. We face decisions, disappointments, victories, and losses. Often we only understand God's leading when we look back. Like a beautiful tapestry viewed from the front, we finally begin to see the design after years of seeing only tangled threads from underneath.

David's confidence was not in himself but in the One leading him.

"The LORD is my shepherd."

Everything else in Psalm 23 grows out of that one truth. Because the Shepherd is faithful, there is provision. Because the Shepherd is present, there is peace. Because the Shepherd never leaves His sheep, there is hope even in the darkest valley.

Before David speaks about green pastures, still waters, or the valley of the shadow of death, he begins with the foundation of it all:

The Good Shepherd Himself.