GREEN – GOD’S CHOICE for LIFE

By Virginia Carrothers, 6/28/2017

Did you ever wonder why God has so many different shades of GREEN in His beautiful creation? I have, and asked a friend who is a chemist why she thought God’s choice was green. She said, she didn’t know for sure but maybe because green plants and vegetables give us vitamins that strengthen our bodies.

Chlorophyll in plants help the photosynthesis process in green plants or organic substances, chiefly sugars, carbon dioxide and water in the presence of light. Heliotropism, where the plants turn toward the light, helps the growth also. It helps to purify the air by taking the carbon dioxide and purifies it to oxygen. (I can still hear Mr. Richie, our science teacher, trying to teach us about this process.)

Green has been used as a description in songs both in the world and hymns of the faith (hymns – There Is A Green Hill; the world – Green, Green). I found many areas where green was mentioned in the Bible and would like to share some of these precious verses with you as follows:

Genesis 1:30, “And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give every green plant for food, and it was so.” (NIV)

Psalm 23:2 & 3a, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still (quiet) waters, he restores my soul.”

John 6:10, “Jesus said, make all the people sit down. Now the ground (a pasture) was covered with thick grass at this spot; so the men threw themselves down.” (Amp)

Genesis 3:7, “Then the eyes of both of them (Adam & Eve) were opened and they realized they were naked; so they sewed (green) fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” 

Genesis 3:23-24, “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden, cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the (green) Tree of Life.”

Genesis 4:2b, “Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.” (green; this was the first lamb sacrifice also)

Genesis 8:20, “Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and taking some of the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it (to the Lord).”  (God’s rainbow of promise had many colors and one was green)

Genesis 9:20, “Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a (green) vineyard.”

Genesis 12:4, “(Abraham and Lot) … left as the Lord had told him and Lot went with him.” (many herds that needed green fields)

Genesis 13:10, “Lot looked up and saw that the whole plain of Jordan was well watered, like the garden of the Lord.” (green)

II Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.“ (grow = green)

Ephesians 4:15, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is Christ.” (grow = green)

In Psalms 92:14-15, “They (believers) will still bear fruit in old age; they will still stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and there is no wickedness is him.”

In Psalm 22, 23, 24, as I have been reading and studying, I have discovered that David, who cared for sheep daily, knew what it was to have green, fresh pastures, fresh water, with care and protection for his father’s sheep. In Psalm 23, he gives us a beautiful picture of the “Great Shepherd” and the loving care He has provided for the sheep-believers by faith. In Psalm 22, the “Good Shepherd”, gave His life for the sheep. In John 10:9, the “Good Shepherd” died for us and rose from the grave so we could have eternal life and be forgiven of all our sin. (red = blood) In Psalm 24, “The Chief Shepherd” is coming again to take Believers to be with Him in Heaven as He promised.

As we look at the picture of the “Great Shepherd” in Psalm 23, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” He sees the Lord Jesus as doing something for me and you right now. He did something for me and you once and forever, that He will never have to do again. He died for our sins. But there is something about our sin nature that likes to rebel against God’s love so we need someone up in Heaven to keep us right. Jesus, who loved us, gave Himself for us, intercedes for us to the Father, everyday, every hour, every minute. Our God provides for us, provides food for us through the reading of his word, (green grass) and provides fresh water for the soul. He keeps us usable for God’s glory. Let us never cease to stand steadfast for God, whether it is in trials, sickness or loneliness as he is always with us and provides for every need.

The sheep need fresh green grass daily in order to stay healthy. The Shepherd needs to be aware of the surroundings and that the grass isn’t brown nor contain bugs that harm the sheep where they are eating. God has given us his Word to grow us in truth and cleanness for his glory and to share with those who need Jesus.

Robert T. Ketcham, In his booklet on Psalm 23, uses as an example John 6: 10, where Jesus fed the people with five loaves and two fish. It is sweetly significant here that in the Gospel records, we are told that there was not only grass for them to sit upon, but it was green grass. Surely the Spirit of God who inspired this record must have wanted to call our attention to this wonderful twenty-third Psalm, in which we are told that we are to lie down in green pastures. Surely there must have been some connection in the divine mind in informing us that the grass here was green!”

Fresh quiet waters are needed so the sheep aren’t frightened. Sudden noises scatter the sheep and makes them feel afraid. God soothes our souls with the Living Water He provides from the truth of His Word. Dirty water will make the sheep ill and sin causes dirt in our lives. God can’t accept and use a life that has sin. The sheep that has brown grass and dirty water will become ill and it causes death. Sin destroys our testimony for Jesus. Green grass, daily from God’s word will give us cleansing and growth as the Holy Spirit teaches us God’s principles and the purpose for our life that He has planned so we can be more like Christ. If we are thirsty, He gives us the cool, clear water that quenches our thirst. We need this to be able to share with others the love and joy we find in Jesus Christ, for all eternity.

Do you hunger and thirst to know God through his Son, Jesus? Proverbs 9:7-10 talks about being a mocker or a wise person. Wisdom begins with knowing God. Do you really want to be wise? Get to know God better by studying his word daily.  

Virginia Carrothers