The Shepherd
Part 2
Greetings Sons:
Psalm 23:2: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
The
unique word in this passage is maketh.
Now you read it as the Lord makes or forces me to lie down but that is
the wrong context because we know that the Lord does not force us to do
anything. We choose through our free
will. So how does the Lord make us lie
down? It is because we are following
His voice as the sheep does the shepherd.
In following Him, he makes us lie down in green pastures.. This is a
picture of rest. In addition he brings
us to a place of provision. Second, he
leads me beside the still water. Still
water or tranquil water is a picture of peace but also He is leading us to a
place where we can quench our thirst. We
know water is a picture of the Word of God.
So
when we come to know the Shepherd we learn His voice. We follow Him and go where He goes and in
following Him, He provides for us and leads us to places of rest and
peace. When we find the Shepherd and
learn of His ways the Scriptures say we will find rest for our souls.
In
the turbulent times we are in rest seems to be only in the after life and not
in the present day but I am here to share with you that is not true…. Here is why:
Hebrews
4:7,8: Again, he limiteth a certain day
saying in David, Today, after so long a time, as it is said, Today if ye will
hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
For if Jesus (Joshua) had given them rest, then would he not afterward
have spoken of another day. There
remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God
So
if we do not harden our hearts in these days and hearken to the voice of the
Lord and do as He commands He says there is a rest that is given to you. The rest for your soul is experienced when
you have gained rule over your soul in a particular area and submitted your
will to the will of God and having full confidence in the thing God is doing or
going to do. You cease from strife and
stress to rest and peace. This is
available to the people of God today….if you do not harden your hearts.
Grace
and Peace,
Calvin
Calhoun, Jr.
