2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
He makes me lie down. This is very different than the leading, guiding and preparing that is mentioned later in this psalm. In those instances we must follow, walk and come. The Lord forces the sheep to take a break, to lie down. He impresses His will on them. They don’t have a choice in the matter. They must take a rest. This is the first in a series of provisions for His sheep. This is the first step in receiving the Lord’s provision. If we want to have no lack, as the first verse states, then we must be willing to be made to rest by the Lord. His provision begins when we are willing to let Him make us rest. Rest can be a very difficult thing for us as Americans. We have a tendency to go, go, go. But we need to learn to rest in the Lord’s pastures. Notice they are green, lush pastures. This is the best kind of pasture for a sheep. The grass is moist and delicious. Sheep love resting when they know provision has been made, that they won’t starve, where the next meal is only a few steps away. This is where the Lord makes us take a knee. We all need to learn to rest in God’s presence, in His provision.
The Arnold Journey 