SOUL REST

TV has a mesmerizing effect on its viewers. Whether we like it or not much of what we see on the TV, is what we want in real life. During these cold and drudgery days, tired of shoveling the snow that frequents more than one would want, we long for far away destinations such as the Caribbean or Florida beaches. The ads will add more fuel to our imaginations: “Picture-perfect beaches, swaying palm trees, crystal clear waters and a relaxed tropical ambiance are all just part of the appeal. The Caribbean is affordable, accessible, and boasts warm weather year round. The region enjoys great diversity among its numerous island destinations, regardless of which island destination you choose, you can be sure to find paradise awaiting you!

When we hear, read, and see these cool ads we wish we have the money to take a flight and get much needed rest and relaxation. But think for a while! How far is it really true? Can they truly deliver all that they promise to deliver? In this hectic and hard driven society it is hard for people to slow down, stop, take a breather and rest for a while. A 17-year-old girl sent an e-mail to Sleepnet.com, “I am a 17 year old girl, a senior in high school. I am tired all the time, and I can't live like this anymore. It's been like this for over a year.” What is causing people to become so restless that they can't sleep at nights? Who can give me rest? Or where can I find rest? Who can truly give me Soul Rest. He makes me lie down in green pastures, Psalm 23:2

The imagery here is a well satisfied sheep lying down in the comfort of green fields in the presence of the good shepherd. This is absolutely a position of contentment and rest. Last week we learned that sheep and people have many similarities. Philip Keller notes in his book “A Shepherd looks at PSALM 23” four things needed to be in place for a sheep to lie down and rest.
The sheep are to be free from fear.
They are to be free from friction.
They are to be free from flies or parasites(irritations)
They must be free from hunger.

The well being of sheep largely depends on the care of a good shepherd. Therefore any good shepherd would make sure that all those conditions are met so that his sheep can lie down in peace and be at rest. Let’s look at how God the good shepherd meets these four requirements so that we the sheep of his flock can enjoy rest.
I. Dealing with fear.
Sheep are absolutely at rest without any fear when they know that their master is near them. Nothing cripples us more than fear. It is a strong emotion which causes us either to flee or fight. Fear of all kinds, such as the fear of heights, water, highway driving, failure, inadequacy, the uncertain and the un-known future causes restlessness. I remember in my early 20's I was part of a missions training base, several times the base leader would travel for weeks on end and leave me in charge of this international community. I was young and inexperienced and I was walking on my toes. When I would hear the leader had landed back in the city I would heave a sigh of relief and felt I could relax again.

The shepherd of our souls removes all our fears by his assuring words and by his indwelling presence. There are over three hundred scriptures in the Bible in which God tells his people not to fear.
When you need protection the Lord says, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward." (Gen 15:1)
When we face enemies in life the Lord says, “Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you." (Deut 3:22)
When we are down, feel weak and anxious about our future the Lord says “do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

God’s assuring words:
“But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! 2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” Isaiah 43:1-2

II. Dealing with friction:
Philip Keller observed, “In every animal society there is an established order of dominance or status within the group. In a penful of chickens it is known as the pecking order, among the cattle it is referred to “horning order” among the sheep it is called the “butting order”
Butting means: To thrust or push headfirst: strike with the head or horns. To strike, or shove with the head or horns. We have an expression “butt heads”: to come into conflict.

Generally an arrogant, cunning, domineering old ewe will be boss of any bunch of sheep. She maintains her position of prestige by butting and driving other ewes or lambs away from the best grazing or favorite bed grounds. Taking this as precedence other sheep also want to establish their position of dominance by pushing others causing friction and restlessness in the flock. There is a scriptural parallel to this phenomenon of butting.

In Ezekiel 34th chapter we read God’s judgment upon the shepherd’s who were not taking care of their sheep and also on the sheep who were butting others or pushing others out of their way. This is what he says about the sheep “I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pastures with your feet… I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away.” (Ezekiel 34:17-21)

Whether we like it or not this butting order can be seen everywhere, in politics, schools, offices, businesses, organizations and unfortunately even in Churches.(I hope this doesn’t happen in our church). We push each other in order to get ahead in life. We pull others down so that we can have prominence and control. We compete and aspire to be on top, in the process we don’t care when others are getting hurt. By hook or by crook we want maintain our dominance.

The good shepherd, Jesus foreseeing this butting phenomenon among his disciples said, “many who are first will be last and the last will be first”(Matt 19:30). Right after the first communion when Jesus announced to his disciples that he was going to be betrayed and his time of departure was at hand there was a discussion among the disciples regarding who would be number one. And there arose also a dispute among them as to which one of them was regarded to be greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who have authority over them are called 'Benefactors.' 26 "But not so with you, but let him who is the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. (Luke 22:24-26).
Paul exhorted the believers in the church of Philippi saying, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)
The arrogant sheep which always wants to dominate is the most restless sheep in the flock. She is not at rest and she doesn’t let others rest. In the same way people who are seeking positions of prominence or to be in control are restless and they also disturb the peace of others. How could we overcome this restless syndrome? How can we be more peaceful and contented people? As we seek to have the same attitude of Christ and humble ourselves under the almighty God. How do I know I have the attitude of Christ? That’s when I consider others better than myself; when I easily prefer my brothers and sisters in the body of Christ.

If our life song is like Frank Sinatra "I had it my way", we may have to learn life lessons hard way to let the Lord have His way. “It’s not my way but its God’s way.”

III. Dealing with Irritations: (Phillip Keller) Sheep especially in the summer can be driven to absolute distraction by nasal flies, bot flies, warble flies and ticks. When tormented by these pests it is literally impossible for them to lie down and rest. Instead they are up and on their feet, stamping their legs, shaking their head, ready to rush off into the bust for relief from the pests. A good shepherd will apply various types of insect repellents to his sheep to see that they are free from flies and ticks.

Just like the sheep for us Christians there will be small irritants in life, such as children, or you constantly getting sick, a next door neighbor leaves his trash in front of your doorsteps, people parking in your parking place, people not keeping their promises, others finding fault with you for no reason, people taking you for granted, and others push you aside in order to get ahead in life, some one is picking on you for no reason. In modern terminology we say “I am being bugged” Or he or she is bugging me” Are you loosing sleep over these irritants? Is there a cure for the child of God who is facing such irritants? Of course there is a sure remedy for these irritants in life.

When we come to God and pour out these frustrations and say to Him that you can not cope with them one more day, then he will take over and fills us with the Holy Spirit who is often symbolized by Oil with that he brings healing, comfort and relief from those irritants of life.

IV. Dealing with hunger: Finally to produce the conditions necessary for a sheep to lie down and sleep there must be freedom from the fear of hunger. As the verse suggests “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” The good shepherd leads his sheep to green fields where his sheep can graze to their hearts content. After eating the sheep won’t lie down automatically as by nature they are quite scary animals, they easily become restless and agitated so the shepherd goes to each sheep and he makes them lie down.

Similarly the shepherd of our souls needs to step in from time to time and make His tired children be at rest. Some times this rest could come on a hospital bed. In a highly competitive world people find it hard to slow down. Many work two jobs to realize their dreams in the process hurting spouses, children and in the end they end up hurting themselves. That is why even under the new covenant we recognize that a Sabbath day in a week is a good idea. God said you work for six days and on the seventh day you take time off. We are never meant to work like a machine 24/7.

Are you sleep deprived? Are you in need of rest? Come to the Good shepherd, Jesus who says, “Come away with me and rest for a while.” In Him we truly find soul rest.