Green Pastures

In Psalm 23, David describes himself as the Lord’s sheep and the Lord as his Shepherd. He speaks of many things which his Shepherd does, however, our focus is on Green Pastures. Throughout this week, we will be embracing the Beauty, Brevity and Bounty of Green Pastures with our Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

I’ve been thinking about the season of spring and what it entails and signifies.  I’m sure that many thoughts come to mind, when you think of that season called Spring. One thing for sure is that the colour green, takes full command in every way. Green, the colour, signifying change from death to life, new birth, new beginnings, and much more.

Will you share this verse with me?  

It’s the time of spring, life returns to the dead,

The hungry and thirsty are sumptuously fed,

It’s the time of spring, colours are fresh and bright,

Darkness and gloom have given way to dancing light,

Today’s your time of spring, don’t let it pass you by,

Your winter’s over, on the wings of faith fly.

This verse leads us into the Bounty, Beauty, and Brevity of Spring and Green pastures. Yes, in this week of meditations, we are linking the season of Spring with green pastures and taking all its offerings, by faith, to flourish us with green pastures. We are holding two lines of this verse at a time.   

Bounty

It’s the time of spring, life returns to the dead,

The hungry and thirsty are sumptuously fed.

If bounty also means, an abundance of, plentiful, flourishing, more than enough, then the green pastures afforded by the season of Spring, usher us into bounty. There is, first of all, the bounty of life. What else is there, but bountiful blessings when one who has been dead is now alive again? Just think of the parable of the Prodigal Son and those immortal words of the father. My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. Luke 15: 31 - 32

Second, there is the bounty of food. You and I know that with the spring, the colour of green is seen dotted all around, and as the season marches on, green takes full charge as the grass is lush and green and sheep graze in style and splendour. Sheep, and other ruminants as well, those that are domesticated and those that are wild, are bountifully supplied with green pastures so that they are truly sumptuously fed. Regardless of how starving, thirsty and weak they have got during the winter period, spring has come and the pastures are now green. What else is there, but bountiful blessings when those who are hungry, weak and fainting, now have green pastures before them? Just bask freely, sprawl out without shame or excuse, on the green pastures of our Shepherd’s Bounty in these memorable and unchangeable words, as found in Isaiah 40: 11. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

What greater bounty than at spring time, when there are green pastures for the hungry sheep to be sumptuously refreshed, the lost to be found and reinstated and the dead to be resurrected to new abundant life? What better promise can we receive than to know that our heavenly Father really does care for us?    

Thank You Lord for this opportunity of springtime in my life. Let me not refuse the green pastures You have placed before me this day. Amen!