“2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”
When reading this Psalm I am immediately reminded of Christian in Pilgrim’s Progress. A sincere and loyal servant of Christ, he made a huge mistake in not following the river bank and instead climbed over a gate into a giant’s property for a rest. The result was loss of freedom and beatings. And then, just as he thought he would die, he remembered that he himself had a key to the dungeon’s door, and then fled the prison he had been kept in. It is God’s intention to make us lie down and rest in green meadows, NOT in a dungeon made by enemies of the soul. Yet, we enter in!
His place of rest is in Christ, not in our own emotions and fears. And when we rest where God is, we are refreshed, our soul is restored, no matter what difficulties or hardships we suffer. He deliberately leads us in the paths of righteousness, which keep us safe in Christ. He does so for HIS name’s sake – His honour, holiness, and everything His Name represents. So, if we do not follow the paths He designates for us, we lose our closeness to Him, and become embroiled in our own selves, knowing no peace or rest. Christian quickly knew what this meant when the cruel giant kept him in a dungeon, close to death. Until he remembered that the key – relying on Christ alone – came back to his memory, and he escaped.
Christian travelled with trepidation through the valley of death, but even knowing the horrors he kept going, trusting in the Lord, until he reached the end of the valley to enjoy sunshine and warmth once again. His goodness and mercy will follow us always, and we will eventually end up in His abode, seeing Christ face to face!
© 24 July 2024
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Published on www.christiandoctrine.com
Bible Theology Ministries
Swansea
Wales
United Kingdom