Nisan 17
Green Pastures
“He makes me to lie
down in green pastures …” (Ps 23:2 ISR)
When our youngest son was
born, he basically hit the ground running.
Always in a hurry, he walked – no, ran
– earlier than any of our other children, at around 9 months. And he hasn’t stopped since. Inactivity is only found during periods of
deep sleep in our son’s life, though falling asleep was never much of a problem
– he wore himself out! Even now, at the
age of 38, Justin is always busy, doing something.
And so it is with many of
us. We run here, we run there, to the
point that all of this running is counter-productive, and exhausting. Sometimes we must be made to stop, and simply rest.
“He makes me to lie down” is translated from one Hebrew word: râbats (Strong’s #H7257). The implication is that one is totally
stretched out in rest and relaxation, comfortable and at peace. That our Great Shepherd would firmly stop our
aimless and pointless wandering, making us stretch out and relax is a wonderful
example of His care and concern for us.
Sheep need green and
healthy pastures to survive. The word
translated as “pastures” is the word nâ'âh (Strong’s #H4999), and
while it does mean a pasture or a meadow, it also means a dwelling, habitation,
or abode. The resulting picture we see
is a place of health and sustenance, one of security and growth. Thank You,
my Father …
“And I shall bring them out from the peoples and
gather them from the lands, and shall bring them to their own land. And I shall
feed them on the mountains of Yisra’ĕl, in the valleys, and in all the
dwellings of the land. In good pasture I shall feed them, and their fold
shall be on the high mountains of Yisra’ĕl. They shall lie there in a good fold
and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Yisra’ĕl. I
shall feed My flock and make them lie down,” declares the Master יהוה.” (Eze 34:13-15 ISR)
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