Psalm 23 Covenant PromisesSample

Psalm 23:2-3a He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul.

In verse two, it says, He makes us lie down in green pastures; and leads us beside quiet waters. Notice it says He leads. He goes ahead of us and shows us the way. Think of the difference in saying that the Lord leads rather than drives. Other translations call it waters of rest or calm waters. When you think about it, shallow running water is noisy. When you get to the deeper waters, they can be moving swiftly, but it's still quiet and peaceful. So in verse two, the Lord is showing Himself to be Jehovah Shalom, the God who gives us peace. That's another covenant promise.

Have you ever looked at a picture of a beautiful lake and green meadows, and suddenly, you felt peaceful—even refreshed? That's why He describes Himself as the One who leads us beside the still, peaceful waters. He is our Jehovah Shalom. He's the one who brings peace to us. Isaiah 26:3 - the mind that is stayed on Him; He will keep in perfect peace. The mind concentrated on the Lord is peaceful. He is drawing us to a place where we can come into a restful trust. If we want it badly enough, He'll lead us beside still waters and let us experience that peace. It's something we have to desire deeply. It's available, although not automatic. It's something to seek after with our whole hearts.

Philippians 4:7 tells us that God's kind of peace surpasses our human understanding. It is not a peace that a person can obtain apart from God. Jehovah Shalom—a peace that is entirely different than worldly peace. It brings peace to our soul (our mind), and that's what verse three means when saying—He restores my soul. God offered His children this peace that passes human understanding, but unfortunately, many of God's children have never experienced it.

Are you partaking of God's peace that surpasses human understanding? If not, what is stopping you from seeking the Lord to begin experiencing it?