GREEN PASTURES = GOD'S SABBATH (4 OF 11)
by Jerry Branch
Scripture: PSALM 23:1-2, EXODUS 20:8-11
This content is part of a series.
Green Pastures = God's Sabbath (4 of 11)
Series: Becoming all God wants you to be
Gerald Branch
Psalm 23:1-2a; Ex 20:8-11
03-20-05
Palm Sunday
(This message was inspired in part by Max Lucado's Book, Traveling Light)
Keywords: Sabbath; weary; Jesus; sufficient
Psalm 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; Ps. 23:1-2a
Sheep, just like us humans need to have rest.
In verse 2, the Hebrew words, ad twanb binoth deshe, actually do not refer to "green pastures," but instead, they refer to an area that had good turf or sod, or places in which the sheep could both eat and rest safely; Even the sheep folds were referred to in this way.
Not only do sheep need safety, they also need sufficiency and satisfaction. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures.'' That is sufficiency. And People who are around sheep, will tell you that a hungry sheep will not lie down. So, when sheep are lying down in green pastures, it means they have their tummies full. And just like the sheep, when we have our sufficiency satisfied, we're more willing to rest as well.
For the Christian, Christ is our sufficiency. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst'' (John 6:35). J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible
Our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, provides for our needs, and He makes us to lie down in green pastures. To me, when I hear this Psalm, I see the picture of 'green pastures' as one of serenity. One of peacefulness; One of satisfying rest.
But I also noticed that the Psalmist says, "He makes me to lie down"... That tells me that this 'resting thing' is something we all need. Could it be that just maybe our bodies aren't made to run non-stop? BUT...in our high-speed world, I wonder if we've forgotten HOW to rest anymore?
I remember when I was in the Army, that we'd do these training things that we called, FTX's...o ...
Series: Becoming all God wants you to be
Gerald Branch
Psalm 23:1-2a; Ex 20:8-11
03-20-05
Palm Sunday
(This message was inspired in part by Max Lucado's Book, Traveling Light)
Keywords: Sabbath; weary; Jesus; sufficient
Psalm 23:1-2 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; Ps. 23:1-2a
Sheep, just like us humans need to have rest.
In verse 2, the Hebrew words, ad twanb binoth deshe, actually do not refer to "green pastures," but instead, they refer to an area that had good turf or sod, or places in which the sheep could both eat and rest safely; Even the sheep folds were referred to in this way.
Not only do sheep need safety, they also need sufficiency and satisfaction. "He makes me to lie down in green pastures.'' That is sufficiency. And People who are around sheep, will tell you that a hungry sheep will not lie down. So, when sheep are lying down in green pastures, it means they have their tummies full. And just like the sheep, when we have our sufficiency satisfied, we're more willing to rest as well.
For the Christian, Christ is our sufficiency. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst'' (John 6:35). J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible
Our Shepherd, Jesus Christ, provides for our needs, and He makes us to lie down in green pastures. To me, when I hear this Psalm, I see the picture of 'green pastures' as one of serenity. One of peacefulness; One of satisfying rest.
But I also noticed that the Psalmist says, "He makes me to lie down"... That tells me that this 'resting thing' is something we all need. Could it be that just maybe our bodies aren't made to run non-stop? BUT...in our high-speed world, I wonder if we've forgotten HOW to rest anymore?
I remember when I was in the Army, that we'd do these training things that we called, FTX's...o ...
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