Isn’t it great to be at peace within ourselves? That time when we are free from the stress and strains of everyday life, and we can relax. Nothing robs us of a good night’s sleep like worry, so much so that when we go to the doctor complaining that we can’t sleep, his first question will be, “are you worried about something at present?” As Christians, we are privileged to have the Triune God as our source of comfort, particularly Jesus Christ, our Shepherd.
In reference to today’s post, I am at present reading “The Shepherd Trilogy” by Phillip Keller, a series of books on the thoughts of a real shepherd on scripture references to sheep and shepherding, especially the 23rd Psalm. It is from this book that I share the author’s excellent insight on our verse today. Sheep generally do not lie down to rest until four conditions are met; first, they must be free from fear. Second, sheep need to be free from social friction in the flock. Third, if they have parasites, they cannot rest. And fourthly, they need to be free from hunger. The central factor in relieving the needs of the flock is the presence of the shepherd; only he can provide for all the needs of the sheep in his care.
Dear Reader, we can apply these four needs listed above to ourselves, the sheep of our Shepherd – Jesus Christ. If we have Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He is also our Shepherd, caring for our every need in life. He is nearby; therefore, we need not fear anyone or anything. If we keep our eyes on Him, the unkindness of other sheep will be trivial, not worrying us. In His care, we are free from spiritual parasites; His Spirit guides us in the Word of God. And it is the Word of God that keeps us healthy and well-fed, sustained each day. Thus, His care and presence with us give us the perfect conditions to rest, sleeping soundly as He watches over us.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Devotional Treasures
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