Psalm 23 – You Can Lie Down
He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. (Psalms 23:1-2)
Writing this song about our heavenly Shepherd, David knew how hard it is to get a sheep to lie down. Sheep are totally defenseless. If a wolf or a lion comes in, they can’t do anything but run. And even then, they can’t run very fast. It’s more like a waddle. So most of the time, sheep sleep standing up. They want to get as much of a head-start as possible when danger comes. If a sheep is going to lay down, he needs to feel absolutely secure. He also needs a full stomach, or else he’ll be constantly on the move, looking for food. He needs a green pasture to feel content.
David’s saying that even when danger is all around us (like David experienced), God gives us everything we need to lie down and rest. He protects us. He provides for us. All because he loves us. Rest in that!