| J.R. Miller D.D. | Page 6 |
We must notice here, too, the grounds of David’s confidence. He was very rich in his old age, when he wrote this psalm but he does not say, “I have much goods laid up, vast sums of gold, and therefore I shall not want.” He was a great king and a mighty conqueror. Nation after nation had submitted to him, and now the whole Eastern country was at his feet, with its power and wealth but he does not say, “I am king of vast realms; many peoples own my sway; the resources of great countries are at my disposal, and therefore I shall not want.” His confidence was in something securer than money or power. “The Lord is my shepherd, and therefore I shall not want.” To have God is better than to have all the world without God. “The world passeth away,” “but the word of God abideth forever.” When we can say, “God is mine,” we have all the wealth of the universe for ours; for “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof,” and what is God’s is ours. “All things are yours, and ye are Christ’s.” Blessed are all who can say, “The Lord is my shepherd.” They can sing then with confidence, “Therefore I shall not want.”
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” This is a picture of peace. The flock has been fed; and now in the heat of the day the shepherd leads his sheep into the shelter, and makes them lie down in the soft, lush grass, by the edge of the rippling streams, to rest awhile.
This suggests the rest into which our Good Shepherd leads his flock. Life is not all toil. God gives us many quiet resting-places in our pilgrim way. Night is one of these, when, after the day’s toil, struggle, and exhaustion, we are led aside, and the curtains are drawn to shut out the noise, and he giveth his beloved sleep, in sleep giving the wonderful blessings of renewal. The Sabbath is another of these quiet resting-places. God would have us drop our worldly tasks, and have a day for the refreshing of both body and soul. It is a sore loss when for any reason one has to miss his Sabbath rest. Few things in the life of to-day are sadder than the encroachments of the world’s bustle, strife, and care upon Sabbath quiet and peace. Friendship’s trysts are also quiet resting-places, where heart may commune with heart, where Jesus comes, too, unseen, and gives his blessing. All ordinances of Christian worship – seasons of prayer and devotion, hours of communion with God – are quiet resting-places.
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