Psalm 23. A verse-by-verse understanding (Part 2)
VS 2. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADETH ME BESIDE STILL WATERS; (KJV)
HE HAS ME LIE DOWN IN GRASSY PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BY QUIET WATERS (Complete Jewish Study Bible)
When we read the second verse, we look into the life and mind of the shepherd. In this case, David the shepherd, who would one day be King David. He had his father's sheep to tend and care for. The job of a shepherd was to care for the sheep, watching over them and chasing off wild beasts that might want to kill them, or even thieves who might want to steal them. One important job was to see that they were fed. The shepherd would lead the sheep to pasture areas with green grass. Additionally, a water source had to be nearby. After the sheep had eaten the grass, they would drink water to satisfy their thirst.
We are the same way. We eat breakfast and have either fruit juice and/or coffee. Food and drink are necessary for a balanced diet. "Lying down" is a relaxing posture. The shepherd would not "hurry" the sheep. No one likes to eat in a hurry. A meal should be a relaxing time.
As the shepherd takes his sheep to grassy areas and to water sources, our shepherd, Yeshua/Jesus, gives us our spiritual food. The Bible is our "green pastures" and "Still waters." Yeshua has many titles, including "The Bread of Life" and "The Living Water." Bread has been a staple of man's diet for thousands of years and remains so today. We all need water as well.
We get to know God by studying His WORD. It should be a joyful and relaxing time to read and digest the words written down by the prophets and other writers that God chose to record his words. The Holy Spirit is our guiding shepherd, who illuminates our minds and souls with understanding.
VS3. HE RESTORETH MY SOUL; HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE (KJV)
HE RESTORES MY INNER PERSON. HE GUIDES ME IN RIGHT PATHS FOR THE SAKE OF HIS OWN NAME (Complete Jewish Study Bible)
The LORD, who is our shepherd, has given us His WORD as our spiritual food. It is our "green pasture" and "Still and living water". The WORD of God talks to our inner person and leads us to get right with God through a "Born-again" experience, accepting Yeshua as LORD and Savior. He then becomes our Shepherd. Our soul is "restored" from being alienated from God to being reconciled to God through Yeshua.
The Bible is our "right path," His commandments, "paths of righteousness." We are righteously saved by faith to walk in righteousness. Following and putting into practice his commandments (even though not all the 613 commandments are for today). His NAME is powerful. "Yeshuah" is "Salvation." For the sake of salvation, He gave up his life as a ransom for ours. The whole Bible is the "Path of Righteousness." Our job is to read, study, and live by God's standards as "His called out sheep"
VS 2. HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES, HE LEADETH ME BESIDE STILL WATERS; (KJV)
HE HAS ME LIE DOWN IN GRASSY PASTURES, HE LEADS ME BY QUIET WATERS (Complete Jewish Study Bible)
When we read the second verse, we look into the life and mind of the shepherd. In this case, David the shepherd, who would one day be King David. He had his father's sheep to tend and care for. The job of a shepherd was to care for the sheep, watching over them and chasing off wild beasts that might want to kill them, or even thieves who might want to steal them. One important job was to see that they were fed. The shepherd would lead the sheep to pasture areas with green grass. Additionally, a water source had to be nearby. After the sheep had eaten the grass, they would drink water to satisfy their thirst.
We are the same way. We eat breakfast and have either fruit juice and/or coffee. Food and drink are necessary for a balanced diet. "Lying down" is a relaxing posture. The shepherd would not "hurry" the sheep. No one likes to eat in a hurry. A meal should be a relaxing time.
As the shepherd takes his sheep to grassy areas and to water sources, our shepherd, Yeshua/Jesus, gives us our spiritual food. The Bible is our "green pastures" and "Still waters." Yeshua has many titles, including "The Bread of Life" and "The Living Water." Bread has been a staple of man's diet for thousands of years and remains so today. We all need water as well.
We get to know God by studying His WORD. It should be a joyful and relaxing time to read and digest the words written down by the prophets and other writers that God chose to record his words. The Holy Spirit is our guiding shepherd, who illuminates our minds and souls with understanding.
VS3. HE RESTORETH MY SOUL; HE LEADETH ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE (KJV)
HE RESTORES MY INNER PERSON. HE GUIDES ME IN RIGHT PATHS FOR THE SAKE OF HIS OWN NAME (Complete Jewish Study Bible)
The LORD, who is our shepherd, has given us His WORD as our spiritual food. It is our "green pasture" and "Still and living water". The WORD of God talks to our inner person and leads us to get right with God through a "Born-again" experience, accepting Yeshua as LORD and Savior. He then becomes our Shepherd. Our soul is "restored" from being alienated from God to being reconciled to God through Yeshua.
The Bible is our "right path," His commandments, "paths of righteousness." We are righteously saved by faith to walk in righteousness. Following and putting into practice his commandments (even though not all the 613 commandments are for today). His NAME is powerful. "Yeshuah" is "Salvation." For the sake of salvation, He gave up his life as a ransom for ours. The whole Bible is the "Path of Righteousness." Our job is to read, study, and live by God's standards as "His called out sheep"
