Psalms 23:2 - “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” (Part 2)

Psalms 23: “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” (Part 2)

Let’s take an extra day to talk about green pastures to help bring this verse into focus. Follow me to the town of Philippi in ancient Macedonia. Sometime around 50 AD, the Apostles Paul and Silas found themselves in a dirty Roman dungeon awaiting punishment and sentencing. (Acts 16:11-40)

In the middle of the night, an earthquake rocked the city. When the dust settled, these men of God found that not only had their chains fallen off but the doors had burst open and they had a clear pathway to escape their unjust treatment.

If I were in their place, I would have praised God for His divine intervention and I would have run like the wind to freedom. I would go find a green pasture and the people of Philippi would never see me again! But, I am no Paul or Silas. They stayed right were they were.

Why? Wasn’t this a clear sign from God? Didn’t this mean that God had vindicated them and provided them with deliverance?

The difference between them and me is this: they knew where God wanted them. They were already in their green pasture. God told them to stay, so they stayed.

I would have thought that my green pasture was on the other side of those bars, but God had a plan and He used those men to save the life of their jailer who dropped to his knees and gave his life to Christ! In fact, his whole household was saved and the church in Philippi was changed forever! It would become a key component in the growth of this burgeoning new religion.

Paul and Silas understood what you and I seem to struggle to fully grasp. Our joy is found in bringing glory to God despite our circumstances and situation. God “makes us lie down” in places we don’t want to be because He knows that we can serve Him best there and be a light to others. That is where we will be the happiest and find our true blessing in life.

Philippians 2:14-15

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”