“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures…” (Psalms 23:2a)

In this series of devotions, under the sub-point: The Supply: My Giver, the primary focus is the receiving of the Action of the Sovereign Shepherd concerning the Supply of His Sheep. (See previous devotion, “The Sovereign: My God by Design Part I” for an explanation of “He maketh me.”)

In this devotion, the key phrase is “…to lie down in green pastures.” Here David presents two major topics that point to the Shepherd’s Supply:

A. “to lie down”

The Sovereign Shepherd’s first Action to answer David’s statement, “I shall not want,” is revealed in:

The What: “to lie down”

The shepherd had the sheep to “lie down”; which reveals for the Sheep to “not want,” the Sheep must be:

1. In the Right Place;
2. In the Right Posture;
3. In the Right Perception.

First: In the Right Place. God leads His Sheep to the designated Place to fulfill their need of sustenance.

God’s Place is not the same for every sheep. But rest assured, wherever the Shepherd leads the Sheep, that place is the ordained Place of God, designed to meet their every need.

Second: In the Right Posture. God brings His Sheep to “lie down” in the right Place; which:

Shows the Sheep are ready to be supplied by the Shepherd. God always creates a desire, or gives the Sheep a hunger, to be fed. The only sheep food there is for His Sheep is Christ, The Bread of Life. The Word of God is the only food that will fill the desire of the Sheep; all else is but husks, of no value. God has multitudinous ways to create the hunger in His Sheep to be fed God and His Word and His Ways. However, the Posture of Humility is the end goal of God for His Sheep. The Apostle Peter writes:

“…be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:5-7)

God leads us to the very Place, and then gives us the Power to be in the Posture to be fed. The school of humility is hard on the flesh; but victorious in the spirit of the Sheep.

Shows the Sheep are at peace and rest; and they feel safe and secure where they lie down. There is no peace and rest and security as those the Sheep find in Christ. When the Sheep of God give up to Christ (submit to Him), they then lie down and wait on the Shepherd to feed them. Before any Sheep can “lie down,” he must feel safe and secure; that is, he must trust the Shepherd’s Plan for him. No matter where the pasture is, or the nature of the outward characteristics of the pasture – he must rest in the Promises of The Shepherd’s Word and Leadership

So it has been, and is, and shall always be: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27).

Third: In the Right Perception. The Sheep must be submitted to the Leadership of the Shepherd.

They know the Shepherd; He is their Shepherd; and they know their Shepherd has good for them – so they surrender to His Sovereignty, submit to His Will, obey His Word, and endure in the same.

You can’t receive the Supply unless you are in Submission to the Shepherd, which is revealed by obedience.

B. “in green pastures”

The Where: “in green pastures”

Not only did the Sheep know they were in the Right Place, the Right Posture, and the Right Perception – they knew they were in the Right Pasture.

Sheep feed on grass. Grass is green in its growing season. This is not just any pasture – as Ruth was directed to Boaz’s field (or pasture; pasture being a place of food supply), where she would be given “handfuls of purpose” (Ruth 2:16).

So the sheep knew they were in the Right Pasture. That is, the Pasture their Shepherd had led them to.

Many of the Sheep however misunderstand the nature of the pasture. Sometimes the pasture that is going to sustain life is the Backside of the Desert, or even the Potter’s Wheel. David used the words “green” (to show life) and “pasture” (as a food supply).

However, God sees the beginning and the end and all the in-between – whereas sometimes the Sheep cannot see all of God’s Food Supply. But, the Sheep are to walk by Faith; even when in the Desert and at the Potter’s House, being reshaped and remade to be made fit for God’s Service.

Therefore, the Sheep are to always keep in mind that Christ is the Bread of Life.

Christ said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35; see John 6:35-69). Those who eat of His Flesh are those who have Eternal Life. But because we are regenerated Children of God; Christ, our Shepherd, maketh us to “lie down” in His Word. This is a daily feeding and resting upon Christ. It is a continual process wherein the Shepherd feeds the Sheep daily and causes the fruit of the Spirit to be borne on their branches. (See John 15:1-16; Galatians 5:22-23.)

The major idea here is the rest the Sheep have in God’s Word, to “lie down” (or to rest) in Christ, the Life, the Bread of Life.

Wherever Christ leads His Sheep, it will be “in green pastures.” What the Sheep are to do is Follow their Shepherd by Faith, no matter where He leads.

Know this, Sheep – God only leads His Sheep to His Supply to conform the Sheep to His Image, and to live His Life in them, and for them to live their life in Him.