Page 75 - Radical Love by Linda Robinson

RADICAL LOVE

allowing herself to be pressured by others. This is a lesson we all need

to take on board.

Moving on now to verse 7, her following words would seem to indicate

a turning point for her. She turns to the Lord and addresses Him as her
Shepherd, as if to say: “Enough is enough! I love Him!” Then the

Shulamite continues by enquiring about the whereabouts of His faithful

flock.

Two points are worth noting here. Firstly, she asks where He pastures

His flock—and as we already know, this is a place of fresh green grass.
Green symbolizes freshness, vigour, prosperity, and all that is alive and

flourishing. Secondly, she then enquires where He makes them lie

down at noon.

Several years ago, I was led to do an in-depth study of the 23rd Psalm

and discovered that the words “He makes me to lie down” are an
incorrect translation. The words “He makes” actually mean “He settles

them to lie down beside the still and restful waters.” How beautiful and

tender that is! The other translation can seem forced and harsh, but our
Beloved Shepherd is never harsh to us.

Noon is the hottest time of the day, when the sun is at its strongest. I
get the sense that she is really asking the Lord where she can find

people who, despite the evil in the world, have been transformed by His
love, mercy, and grace—and, as a consequence, have the ability to be

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