Psalm 23:1-2 (AMP)
The LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],I shall not want. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
As a good Shepherd the Lord knows what is best for me and as sheep trust and heed to the call of the good shepherd so should I. The Lord makes me lie down in green pastures; He knows what is best for me. Sometimes I may think I know what I need but I need to trust that God knows what is good for me. I read this about sheep and it really amazed me; Sheep are not the kind of animals that just lie down easily. They only do when 4 conditions are met. First, they will not lie down if they are afraid. Second they will not lie down if there is friction amongst them. Third if parasites are troubling them they will not lie down and fourthly if they are hungry they will not lie down. They need perfect peace so as to lie down and that’s the picture Psalm 23 paints for us that we are able to lie down in green pastures because we have no fear or friction. We are also not bothered by pests and we are well fed. Now that’s reassuring!
He leads me besides still and quiet waters because shepherds do not allow the sheep to drink from running waters. This is because the sheep may fall in as they bend to drink. Therefore the shepherds draw water from the wells and give it to their sheep. Our good shepherd knows that and thus He will never lead us to a place of danger.
Provision is one of the main things that we worry about, it is what keeps many people awake and anxious and they have no rest. The good shepherd understands that and that is why Jesus tells us in;
Matthew 6:31-32
31 Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ 32 For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
A good shepherd knows what his sheep needs and he will lead them to a place where they will find adequate provision. We need to walk with God following in faith where He leads us. If we do, we will never lack and we will always operate from a place of rest.
