297. Good Fold and Fat Pasture
Ezekiel 34:14, 15 I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.
The Lord, the Good Shepherd, will feed us in a good and fat pasture upon the mountains of Israel. He will feed the flock and cause them to lie down. This came true when Jesus came to earth to be the Shepherd of all the people who will believe in Him. Jesus uses this image to show us what He has done for us, what He is doing for us, and what He will do for us every day for eternity. He Himself says, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” The metaphor of the Shepherd is one of the most powerful pictures in the Gospel of the Person who finds, saves, feeds, protects, and gives rest and peace. We are like weak and helpless sheep; Jesus is like the strong and loving shepherd. In His hands we are in good hands.
God feeds me: The Lord uses the Word of God to nourish and strengthen our spirit and our faith to grow spiritually strong and healthy. He leads us to and feeds us in a good pasture and in a fat pasture. The Lord shows us where the Gospel is proclaimed, and He prepares such a pasture for us to feed in. This pasture is on the mountains of Israel, which signifies the church of all believers in Christ. God will make sure that His believing children have a place they may go to hear the Gospel and hear the Word of forgiveness and salvation.
God makes me to lie down: I n those green pastures beside still waters, which is the invisible Church where the Gospel is preached, the Lord will cause us to lie down and rest at peace. Jesus says, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest for your souls.” The Curse of the Fall into Sin brings stresses, strains, toil and labor into our life. We may lie down by ourselves, but that does not always relieve stress. But when Jesus causes us to lie down it is because there is no stress. Sin is forgiven. Curse is relieved. Stress is removed. Peace floods the soul. Now we can lie down. We say with the David in Psalm 3: “I lay down and slept: I woke again, for the Lord sustained me.”