Can't Stop

January 18, 2023

Psalm 23:1-2, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”

That particular psalm is probably the most famous. It’s a scripture of comfort. It’s usually a scripture of comfort. Those first two verses can be very uncomfortable.

Some of our greatest problems arise from the fact that we have to be made to lie down in green pastures, when we would prefer to partake of the pasture on the other side of the fence. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, right? God provides for our needs, but we always want something better. We think we know better than God what’s best for us. Boy, that’s a dumb thought!

The Old Testament Israelites, “God’s chosen people,” were just like us. Instead of being satisfied with the God they had, they thought worshipping additional gods would bring even more blessings. (Like my college friend John used to say, ‘if one piece of cherry pie is good, wouldn’t five be even better?’) Dividing their allegiance meant that they didn’t consider God as all-powerful. They soon found out that the grass was not greener on the other side of the fence. The ‘green pastures’ they already had were all they needed for the best life, but God could not make them ‘lie down in green pastures.’

They’d already been guided in the last of the Ten Commandments to not covet what someone else has. When you pick and choose how much of God’s commandments to obey, you are in control. You are making yourself your life’s own god.

I may not always want to do what God says, but I’ll do it. God is actually much smarter than me.