Devotional for Monday, June 19, 2017
“Laying Down In Green Pastures”
by Dona Hake
Yesterday’s devotional was focusing on David’s crying out to the Lord when he recognized his soul was cast down. He responded to his own question to the Lord, and spoke to his soul and ask it “Why are you disquieted within me? Hope thou in God!” Our loving Shepherd tends to us with His loving eyes and He knows how to remedy every problem. In those times that our soul is troubled and disquieted we need to command our soul to be still, and remind ourselves that our hope is in God. I believe it is those times that God knows how to make us lay down in His green pastures and partake of His goodness and peace. Let us look at this analogy of the sheep and green pastures…
You would think any animal would absolutely love the inviting green grass on a warm day. You would never think that one of the greatest hindrances for a sheep to lie down is their fear within. Sheep are actually restless and creatures that are easily intimidated. I have read that a single jack rabbit can scare one sheep and cause a whole flock of hundreds to flee in fear. Because they are on guard and nervous, it is only the shepherd that can assure them that it is safe to lay down in the beautiful, lush, green pastures that he has led them to.
What I see here is the beauty of the shepherd’s keen oversight over his flock. In my reading on this subject the three other things that keep sheep from laying down in green pastures is friction within the flock, tormenting flies, and parasites, and they cannot be hungry. Any of these things will hinder them from basking and resting in the green pastures.
Within these facts we can see a beautiful analogy of our Good Shepherd. It is only He that alleviates fear, helps us work toward unity, helps us with the irritations of life, and is faithful to feed us His good Word. There is no substitute for His keen awareness of every area of our life.
Psalm 4:8 (CEB)
“I will lie down and fall asleep in peace
because you alone, Lord, let me live in safety.”
