Carried Close

Psalm 23

“The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures
and leads me beside still waters.
He revives my soul
and guides me along right pathways for his Name’s sake.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me;
you have anointed my head with oil,
and my cup is running over.
Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
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My friend Bob, with whom I serve on one of the jail ministry teams, has given me great insight into this Psalm.  The verse he focuses on when discussing the beauty of this Psalm is almost at the very beginning: “He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters” (verse 2).

As I learned this Psalm growing up, I always thought the second verse was about God providing me a quiet and beautiful place of comfort.  I pictured this wide open pasture, with a babbling brook; lush, soft grass on which to rest.  But, this verse can have a very different interpretation.

Little lambs, while under the care of a shepherd, tend to wander away.  When this happens, the shepherd takes the crook of his staff and uses it to pull the sheep back into the flock.  But, when this happens over and over again, the shepherd may take the lamb and break one of its legs over his staff.  The lamb needs a time out.

Although this can sound cruel, it is for the lamb’s protection.  If it were to wander into that babbling brook, its wool would become saturated and cause the lamb to drown.  The shepherd, by forcing the lamb to lie down in the green pasture, is actually saving its life.

But even more beautiful is the image of what has to happen when the shepherd takes his flock to the next pasture.  In order for the lamb to come along, the shepherd must pick up the lamb, hold it close and carry it in his arms to the next place.

Father God, 

There are times when we need You to take control of our lives to keep us safe from ourselves.  We thank you for these times, even when it seems like it hurts. 

You care for us and protect us, as we tend to wander away from You. 

Give us the ability to have peace with the times when You pull us back, come closer to you and rest in Your loving arms. 

We pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ,  

Amen.