Eastertide

Scripture Reading: Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
   he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
   I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
   your rod and your staff—
   they comfort me. –Psalm 23:1-4

How many of us have reached the point where God must make us lie down in green pastures? The Psalmist is telling us we are like sheep. Shepherds guide sheep to water and to pastures where the grass is available for them to graze and gain their daily nutrients. After the walk and the food comes rest. It is the routine of sheep.

Our world feels more like the time in sheep’s lives when the shepherd discerns that the grass has fed all the sheep it can, and it is time to search out a new spot where water and food are abundant. During droughts, the availability of new growth is limited. When no rain falls, streams dry, and water is scarce. A good shepherd does not rest until his flock is safe and has the necessities of life.

Psalm 23 speaks of such a time. We are living in such a time. Entering unknowns that are out of our control is scary. We have a Good Shepherd who comforts us and keeps us safe, bringing us out of the dark valley into green pastures surrounded by still waters and restores our souls.

Prayer: Lord, Make it so. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.