Apples of Gold . Ps 23 no 3 Monday 31 Oct 2022
Our 3rd meditation on Psalm 23 brings us to verse 2: He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. Philip Keller, agronomist, scientist, author of 38 titles, and a passionate sheep farmer, said: “It is almost impossible for sheep to lie down unless some requirements are met. They are very timid and will not lie down unless they are free from all FEAR. Nothing so quieted and reassured the sheep as to see me in the field. In the Christian’s life there is no substitute for the keen awareness that My Shepherd is in the field with me. For the believer there is nothing like Christ’s presence to dispel the fear, the panic and the terror of the unknown.” He makes me to lie down in green pastures – only HE can do it! And how does He do it? Through faith He gives me a peace that is not affected by daily circumstances.
John 14v27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The second requirement says Keller, is that sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction and conflict within the flock. In every animal society, there is a very real order of dominance or status established within the group. With sheep we talk about a butting order. If this continuous conflict and jealousy within the flock is allowed to continue, it becomes very detrimental -the sheep become edgy and irritable, and the outcome is that they simply cannot lie down – they remain RESTLESS. It even begins to affect their appetite to the point that they can begin to lose weight. The very opposite of what the Good shepherd wants for them.
How we need to guard against this self assertion and dominance that causes relentless friction and pain. It happens in the office, in families, in schools, at the golf club and even in the church. You will know exactly what I am talking about. As an ex-headmaster, I can tell you story after story of how parents shamelessly drove their children on the sports field and in the classrooms to outplay and outdo the opposition. Relationships broke down. Parents who were friends stopped speaking to each other. How terribly sad.
Ezekiel gives us a chilling yet comforting insight into how the Sovereign Lord, the Good shepherd, tends his sheep. Ezekiel 34: 15-16: “I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice”. Praise God for that!
Next week DV, we will continue with a third requirement and a thought or two on the closing statement of verse 2.
With much Christian Love,
Anton van Stormbroek