HE LETS, MAKES AND LEADS

He lets me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters. — Psalm 23:2 (CSB) 

When David wrote this Psalm through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote of the Lord being his shepherd. David knew of the coming Messiah, but he did not know who the Savior would be. We can now say that Jesus is our Shepherd; He is, in fact, the Good Shepherd. Today, we can read this as, “Jesus is my Shepherd, I have all I need.” He is also the one who lets us lie down in green pastures. Many of you, like me, have likely memorized the ESV or KJV which says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” I find value in reading multiple versions because both iterations are correct. He both “lets” us lie down and “makes” us lie down. 

There are times when I know I am not worthy of Jesus’ provision in my life. In fact, not only am I not worthy, but I also deserve judgment and punishment. God will discipline us for our good, but He will also nourish and encourage us. Even though my actions at times do not warrant rest, Jesus lets me lie down in green pastures. He lets me find nourishment, encouragement, and help through His presence and His Word. He lets us partake in His goodness. 

There are other times when He makes me lie down. Whether it is through circumstance, relationship, or something else, He will make us lie down. He loves us too much to let us wander continually. If He let us do what we felt like, we would spend most of our days meandering through life. Jesus does not want us to wander apart from Him. He will make us lie down in green pastures. He wants His sheep to be fed and nourished with spiritual food. This is why Jesus commanded Peter three distinct times to feed His sheep. 

So, does Jesus let us lie down or make us lie down? The answer is, “Yes!” He both lets us and makes us. Both translations work and both are correct depending on what is going on in our lives. Regardless of whether He lets you or makes you lie down, the nourishment is the same. We are to abide in Him (John 15). He brings us to these pastures so that we can find rest in Him. 

The Good Shepherd also leads beside quiet waters. He leads us to where we can drink. It wouldn’t do any good for a shepherd to lead his flock to a raging river. While there is water in a raging river, it is not accessible to the sheep. Trying to drink from turbulent or raging waters would just result in the sheep being swept away or drowned. Jesus promises to lead us to where we can quench our thirst. Not only is He the Good Shepherd, but He is also the One who gives living water (John 4). Jesus is very knowable; He wants us to know Him and depend upon Him. God is not hiding from us; His Word is not hidden from us; it is near us. Jesus is willing to let us in, to make us lie down, and to lead us to quiet waters. We need to simply trust in Him and follow. He is good and He is faithful. 

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. — John 10:14-15 (ESV)