It's Okay to Lie Down

Today's installment of my Praise Post series is all about Psalm 23:2. I've always thought verse 1 and 6 were my favorites out of the Psalm; but I'm learning each one is rich!

NOVEMBER 4

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:2 NKJV

I imagined myself writing about this verse and dwelling on the part about still waters. After all, I'm the Queen of the lake-sitters. I rechage my spiritual tank by resting and meditating lakeside. I'm sad the season for doing so is just about over; we had our first hard frost this morning.

Instead, my attention was drawn to the first half of the scripture; more specifically, "He makes me to lie down."

Whenever I study a verse, the first thing I do is to look up all the translations of the verse. (Bible Gateway is great for this. It will list all the translations on the same page.) I was struck by something when I looked at Ps. 23:2. 

I wonder if you can see it, too?

A little over half of the English translations say, "He makes me to lie down," and the others say "He lets me lie down," or some variation of the word.

He lets me lie down. Sometimes we're too tired to go on. Other times, He makes us. Because we are sheep and don't always know what is best for us.

I'm reminded of when I was little. My dad would try to get me to nap. "NO!" I would stubbornly say, "I don't need no nap." Which, of course, proved that I did need one. 

Now, if only someone would make me nap, I would gladly give in. Or would I? I always want to do "one more thing," before I lay down and rest.

See how you can see yourself in scripture and your motives are revealed?

Let me leave you with my current favorite translation of this verse:

He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.

Somehow, I feel better just reading it!

Today, I'm thankful for Psalm 23:2. Which scripture speaks to you?

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Today, I'm sharing at Grace & Truth