Welcome back!
Yesterday we worked through the first half of verse 2 from Psalm 23: “He makes me lie down in green pastures”. Today we will be dealing with the second
half of that verse which reads:
“He leads me beside
quiet (still) waters,” (Ps. 23:2A)
The first thing I hope you notice when you read this phrase
is that the shepherd isn’t “driving” or “herding” or “moving” the flock to this
water, he is “leading” his sheep. That’s
really pretty significant. The sheep are
heading into new territory, as it were, and the shepherd is showing them that
it’s OK, that it’s safe because he’s going there in front of them. His sheep have the confidence that the
shepherd will protect them as they follow him and that quiets them and helps
them feel calm and more peaceful. As you
remember from previous posts sheep are very skittish creatures and easily
frightened. When the shepherd leads them
from the front they have that added peace of knowing that he’s there and will
deal with anything, natural barrier or predator, before it becomes a problem
for the flock.
We need to always remember that time means nothing to God
and when we apply this first idea of God, our Good Shepherd, going before us it
means that He’s already been where we are going. He knows what’s up ahead and can prepare us
for what is to come. God does that in
different ways but one of the most common is through His written Word. In Psalm 119:105 God tells us that His Word
will be a “lamp” for our feet and a “light” for our path.
“Your word is a lamp
to my feet and a light for my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
God tells us that His Word is a “lamp” which helps us see where we are stepping so as to avoid
pitfalls, stones which might trip us up or muck and mire which will bog us down
or stop our progress all together. I’m
sure that you can think of things in your daily life which qualify as pitfalls,
stones, and muck which can have a negative impact on your faith walk. God is giving us a picture of a lamp which
doesn’t necessarily send out a strong beam of light into the darkness but
shines down where we step to help us, one small step at a time. The spiritual implications are pretty clear
in this illustration. Secondly, God
tells us that His Word is also a “light” which helps us see down the road. This kind of light would be more like
headlights in a car. It is a light which
shows us the road, or path, out ahead of us.
This kind of light offers guidance with which turns to take or which
choices are better, safer and more beneficial on our journey. Once again, I hope the spiritual implications
are pretty obvious. The closer we stay
to our shepherd (obedient and attentive to His presence) and the more clearly
we hear His voice (the instructions in His Word) the more that “light” will
help us make right choices as we walk through our daily lives.
There is something in many of us which I have seen over the
years which causes us to be very impatient about the future. I like to call it the “I want it all and I
want it now” attitude and it’s very prevalent in our current day and age. I believe I mentioned it some time ago in an
earlier post. We want to see way down
the road and know how things will work out.
We plan much of our lives in this way and in some ways it is important
to have plans and goals. I believe the
problem here lies in being consumed by this ‘need to know’ everything when many
times that’s just not possible. There
are spiritual questions where we really don’t have all the details or answers
in the here and now and that’s by design.
I’ve had people who wanted to know details of what heaven will be
like. God, in His Word, gives us a
glimpse into that afterlife but it is far from a complete picture. We always come to a place in such a
discussion or in our daily lives, for that matter, where we have to take the
next step in faith. We can’t always see
the outcomes or final results so we walk daily by faith. That’s what God wants for us. He is in control and He has a plan for us,
yes, even our future. There comes a
point where we need to realize this and find peace and rest, knowing that He
loves us, He cares for us and He’s going to take care of us. That kind of peace is what David is speaking
of when he talks of “quiet waters.” This
would be a place where the sheep know they are safe and can drink, eat and lie
down to rest in the assurance that the shepherd is there and will take care of
them.
The second part of today’s scripture speaks of the shepherd
leading his flock “beside quiet waters”. I have heard and read the basis for this
description and it deals, once again, with the nature of sheep. Among other things that scare sheep is the
sound and splash of fast running streams.
The shepherd in David’s time could lead his sheep to a mountain stream
but they could not relax and drink from it because it frightened them. The water, splashing on rocks or into their
faces as it rumbled over drops in the stream bed would scare them and they
wouldn’t get close enough to drink. Their
fear of water was real for they couldn’t stand against a strong current and
would be in real danger of drowning. To
solve this dilemma the shepherd would go to the bank of the stream and move some
large rocks around to create a pool, eddy or backwater where the water would be
still, quiet and not too deep. It was
still rushing by but not nearby. The
sheep could enter these “quiet waters”
and drink to their hearts (and bellies) content. This was especially important if they had to
journey any distance for food or if they were ewes who were nursing lambs. Here again the shepherd would use his skill
and understanding of his sheep to make a place where they could find
refreshment, peace and much needed rest.
Here it comes…I bet you’ve already been thinking, “I know
how this applies to us!” We need that
place of safety, peace and rest just like those sheep don’t we? God made us and He knows just what we need
ad individuals. He also knows how to
provide it. Here’s the interesting thing
though. As the shepherd ‘leads’ his
sheep and doesn’t force them to follow him to the quiet waters, so God leads us
in the same way. He never forces His
will on us but He makes a way for us to find peace even in the midst of
troubled waters. It is there for us to
enjoy and to find rest in and many do. Sadly,
there are many Christians I wonder if you have known any brothers or
sisters that were like that. There are
people, even Christian folks, who don’t seem to understand what God is offering
them and they continue to wallow in the muck and mire of their worries, their
past sins, their shortcomings and even their fears about the future. Jesus said in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Those are powerful words about what he offers
us. Back in John 14:27 Jesus says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give
you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be
troubled and do not be afraid.” Do
not be afraid. Did you hear that? Jesus doesn’t want us to be filled with fear
about today or the days ahead. Way back
in Psalm 34:4 we read these reassuring words: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my
fears.” And in Psalm 56:3 the
psalmist reminds us “When I am afraid, I
will trust in you. In God, whose word I
praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.”
who almost
enjoy their struggles more than they want the peace God offers.
Out of his love for the sheep the shepherd leads them (not
forces them, but leads) to a place of “quiet
waters” where they can find safety, refreshment and rest. If you find yourself feeling frustrated,
anxious, nervous, or insecure about your life or the future then why not follow
your Good Shepherd to that place of peace, refreshment and rest. Find those “quiet waters” David speaks of where you can relax in God’s
presence. Find yourself a quiet place
and sit down there with your Bible. Find
some favorite verses or ask God to show you where you might read some word of
encouragement. If nothing else you could
simply read all of Psalm 23. (consider
reading ahead as homework). Then close
your eyes and talk to God about what’s on your mind and heart. If there are things that are bothering you
then tell Him about them. He already
knows and is waiting for you to “be still” so that He can minister to your
needs just as the shepherd in Psalm 23 ministers to his sheep.
I will close today’s post with a story which Max Lucado shared
in his book “He Still Moves Stones”. It
is short but very encouraging so I will share it in its entirety.
We need to hear that God is still in
control. We need to hear that it’s not
over until he says so. We need to hear
that life’s mishaps and tragedies are not a reason to bail out. They are simply a reason to sit tight.
Corrie ten Boom
used to say, “When the train goes through a tunnel and the world gets dark, do
you jump out? Of course not. You sit still and trust the engineer to get
you through.”
Next time you’re
disappointed, don’t panic. Don’t jump
out. Don’t give up. Just be patient and let God remind you he’s
still in control. It ain’t over till
it’s over.”
Have a blessed day and join us again when we move forward in
our study of Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads
me beside quiet (still) waters,”
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