My Shepherd Feeds Me
Psalms 23:2-3 “He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside still waters, He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.”
The Shepherd Psalm was written from the heart of one who knew what it was like to live with, to nurture, and to care for flocks of sheep. And one thing is for sure, Sheep need food and water every day, especially in the hot arid climate of Israel. In that terrain, grass didn’t just grow in every place like it does in the Northwest. You had hunt for those spots where the grass was green, and so the Shepherd would lead His sheep to the very spot where He knew they would be fed.
So today, God leads us down paths we may never have trodden before. Rocky paths, treacherous paths, paths that may seem to lead no where. But the paths God leads us on, always produces spiritual nourishment for our souls — There is bread to feed the doubting, trembling, anxious soul today, and enough if we are willing to be led by God to His green pastures.
The text also say, He leads us beside still waters. Now you try to drink water rushing in the wild torrent of a river, and you’re going to have a hard time. Water that comes at you too fast, and with too great of force can not be received. Sheep need quiet and still waters, that flow slowly and consistently in order to drink deep.
So also today, God leads us to the water of truth and opens up to us truth, sometimes cutting truth, bit by bit as our soul is able to receive it. How merciful, that God doesn’t pour on our sorrowful souls the entire flood of heaven’s truth all at once! God knows we wouldn’t be able to receive it in a torrent — God knows that new believers also can only receive truth slowly as well. The soul takes time to drink it in!
So friend, trust in the Lord’s leading in your life. Believe the path He has you on is meant to feed your soul. And don’t rush ahead of God, Truth will be revealed to you, and can be revealed through you to others at a measured pace. Take the time that is needed to learn truth well, and also take the time that is needed to share truth well. And we will be as sheep in green pastures, we will be as sheep beside His still waters.
Written by Myckal Morehouse