Green Pastures

This post is an excerpt I wrote for our summer B2B Bible study. I hope you enjoy a taste of our summer teaching :)

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters..."

Psalm 23:1-2

Usually when we thinkof green pastures we picture a huge rolling meadow with lush green grass growing up to our shins (kinda like the above picture). This is our American imagination at work. Actually the “green pastures” in Israel still look, to this day, as they did in David’s time: rocky, rough, barren, wilderness. Almost the exact opposite of how it is portrayed in our children’s picture Bibles. There is not much fertile land in Israel, so all of it is strictly used for farming. The barren mountainsides are the “greenpastures” for the sheep to graze.

Israel's green pastures

When we realize the pastures in Psalm 23 look more like wilderness than alfalfa fields, it changes the entire meaning of the verse. The only green in the Israeli pastures are small tufts of grass growing up from around the rocks. Moister from the air condensates on the rocks overnight, running off to give these tufts of grass their only water supply. The shepherds graze their sheep on these sparse weeds, pointing the spades of grass out to the sheep as they walk along. Each sheep must trust the shepherd to show him each mouthful. The scripture is true, that the sheep are not in want, however this is because the faithful shepherd is providing each and every mouthful exactly when it is needed, not because the sheep are self-sufficient in the rolling meadows. (Taken from a teaching by Ray Vanderlaan. For more info see: www.followtherabbi.com)

Israeli shepherd with his sheep

Psalm 23 is a wonderful example of our Sustainer at work. When we come into the Kingdom weare not promised alfalfa fields of ease free from any problem. No, we are promised a faithful shepherd who will sustain us mouthful by mouthful, just enough for right now, as we learn to depend on Him each and every day. This is how He holds us together.

This past year I clearly saw a sheep dependant on his Shepherd through an encounter I had with Jose Angel, a pastor in the impoverished Caderyata community. One day PastorJose Angel asked me what my fiancé and I still needed for our approaching wedding. I told him our biggest needs were buses to transport our out-of-country guests, however renting these were very expensive. Jose Angel looked at me with determination in his eye and said,“consider it done.” I’ll be honest thatI was a bit confused. Jose Angel, his wife, and 5 daughters live in a tiny house. He works full time for nearly free as a preacher in an impoverished community and runs a very small mechanic business out of his house. For the past several years B2B has helped to support his family with donations each month. I knew that the buses would cost the majorityof his monthly salary. “The buses are REALLY expensive,” I tried to say with tact, “are you sure you can afford that? Why don’t you just pray for this need instead.”

“I’ll do that too,”said Jose Angel, “I don’t have the money right now, but God does and He is going to give it to me so I can bless you.” I was so humbled. Here was Christ’s sheep, completely trusting his Sustainer not only for his needs that day, but for mine too.

Still not having learned the lesson, I was surprised when a week before our wedding Pastor Jose Angel showed up at B2B with an envelope of money to cover the bus expenses. He left it in the office for me and went on his way. No explanation necessary.

What are some specific ways the Lord is asking you to depend on Him as your daily Sustainer?

What makes it difficult for you to trust your Good Shepherd for the next mouthful?

Spend some time in prayer with your Good Shepherd. Thank Him for being your Sustainer and holding all things together on a daily basis. Ask Him to help you trust Him for the next mouthful.