Verse of the Day Devotion: Psalm 23:2
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” – Psalm 23:2
This verse is basically a continuation of the last part of verse one where it says, “I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1b. The idea is that the shepherd will provide good green grass to eat and good water from quiet calm streams. He will not provide fields of grass that is brown and wilting, or to land where little grass is found that is edible because of rocky or hardened soil. He will also lead us to good water that flows quietly instead of swift waters because swift torrents are inconvenient for watering the sheep, and they are also harmful.
In Ezekiel, we see a very interesting set of verses regarding God’s caring for His people. “For thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest, declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 34:11-15. This is essentially saying the same thing as our focus verse, but with more information. God is saying He will seek out His sheep. He will search for all His people wherever they are found. For He is a shepherd who cares for His flock who is currently scattered throughout the land. And He will gather them to Himself and feed them in a good pasture with streams of water. And secondly, He will lead them to rest. He will bring them to a place of peace and rest, just as our focus verse shows.
David is speaking of the goodness of God to His sheep, His people. He will ensure that we are fully taken care of, that we will lay down in perfect peace, are fed and without thirst. We, as His sheep are satisfied and without any unmet need, being a flock, whose desires are met and are resting in complete abundance. This is how God takes care of His people. No matter what we may go through, He is always with us, and we must always focus on all His provisions to us, which is beyond understanding. This is the way it is today, but more importantly; this will be our future for all eternity. What a beautiful picture of what lies ahead for us. We will want for nothing, for everything we need and desire will be available to us as His children. We will rest in peace with Him always near us, and nothing will ever happen to us that will cause us grief. “And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.
William Funkhouser MDiv, ThD, Founder and President of True Devotion Ministries.