Theme: Lead be beside quiet waters
Text: Psalm 23:1-6
Greetings:
The Lord is good and His Love endures forever!!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet you all in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Introduction:
Let us remember our Annual theme, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” based on John 14:6, and our monthly theme, “The Unfamiliar Paths” based on Isaiah 42:16.
Today we are meditating on the theme: “Leads me besides still waters” (Psalm 23:2). This line was composed by the shepherd boy or King David. Psalm 23 is very popular and recited by millions and millions over the years. Every Christian funeral completes with this Psalm.
First Let’s understand how the bible translators have understood the word and refer to it with their interpretation of the Hebrew words. “mei menuchot = Quiet Waters: Calm Waters (NCV), Quiet waters (NASV), quiet streams (Living Bible), quiet pools (MSG), peaceful waters (NOG), Still waters (World English Bible) , peaceful streams (NLV), Refreshing water (NLT), an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss (The Passion Translation), and Tranquil waters (Jewish Orthodox Bible).
I would like to refer these quiet waters to our three spiritual and physical experiences:
1. Quiet waters refer to the Holy Spirit
2. Quiet waters refer to rest and refreshment of our Physical, mental, and emotional realms and,
3. Quiet waters refer to the Abundant life on earth and beyond
1. QUIET WATERS REFER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
He has composed this song out of his deeper experience in the shepherding and their dangerous situations. David compares himself to a sheep and explains how he is blessed to have God as his shepherd and a leader. Shepherds usually lead the sheep to the running waters or clean ponds and lakes. At the same time, they take all precautionary methods to avoid the mud sling waters, polluted and dangerous zones. They would make sure of the good and safe waters to the flock. The first understanding we get from this phrase is perhaps David may refer to the waters of Siloam, or Shiloh, that go softly (Isaiah 8:6), compared with the strong current of the Euphrates.
The consolations of the Holy Spirit are like the still waters by which the saints find quietness during calamities, losses, and failures. The streams of grace that flow from the fountain of living waters always keep a person in complete calm (Isaiah 26:1-3). Those only are led by the Holy Spirit experience the comfort of the still waters. They continually walk in the paths of righteousness. Their ways of duty are truly pleasant, and their works are full of righteousness in peace.
In these paths, we cannot walk, unless. God lead us into them and lead us on in them. Discontent and distrust proceed from unbelief; an unsteady walk is a consequence of it (Matthew Henry).
So, these "still waters" are the influences and graces of God’s blessed Spirit. The Holy Spirit attends us in various processes: to cleanse, to refresh, to fertilize, and to cherish as the streams do with us. The Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of pretention in his operations, may act quietly mostly.
He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane. The inflow of the Holy Spirit into our soul is very personal and not exponential. Therefore, neighbors may not perceive that divine presence, and though the blessed Spirit may be pouring his floods into one heart, yet he that sits next to the favored one may know nothing of it. Our Lord leads us beside "still waters". We could not get there of ourselves, we need his guidance, therefore it is said, "He leads me beside still waters"(biblestudytools.com).
When we sit at the feet of God with heavily loaded hearts with the worry about our financial crunches, failures in the profession, overdue to be paid, taking care of a sickly spouse, parents, and fear of the future of our children and many other unknown fears. The Holy Spirit leads us beside still waters.
He knows each one of us by our names, so He knows all of our needs and necessities and answers accordingly. He is also aware of the dangers and difficulties that stalk each of our life paths. He is the sparkling wellspring of comfort, and He gently leads us by His still waters of stillness. He is the One that leads us to the sill water-pools of refreshment for He is the water of life. (dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com).
He does to the soul, by causing it amidst the dryness and heat of temptation and trouble, to taste the very essence of life which refreshes and strengthens it (Keil and Delitzsch). "Waters of stillness" whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.
2. QUIET WATERS REFER TO REST AND REFRESHMENT
Quiet waters refer to rest and refreshment of our Physical, mental, and emotional realms. According to its primary meaning is resting or dwelling-place, specifically an oasis, i.e., a greenery spot in the desert. Quiet and gentle waters, running in small and shallow channels, which are opposed to great rivers, which both affright the sheep with their great noise and expose them to be carried away by their swift and violent streams, while they are drinking at them (Benson Commentary).
Thou hast brought us from the land of our captivity, from beyond this mighty and turbulent river, to our country streams, wells, and fountains, where we enjoy peace, tranquillity, and rest (Adam Clark). So that it comes to itself again, therefore to impart new life, recreate.
A pastoral word used of gentle leading, and more especially of guiding the herds to the watering-places, and the making of them to rest, especially at noon-tide (Song of Songs 1:7 & Revelation 7:16-17).
He leads me beside the waters of rest and quietness and not too rapid torrents. With the noisy streams and the swiftness of their motion, the sheep are frightened, and not able to drink of them. But the still waters, the pure and clear, and motionless, softly flow, like the waters of Shiloh (Isaiah 8:6) and the Lord leads them in a gentle way and enables them to bear it.
As Jacob led his flock (Genesis 33:14), and Christ leads (Isaiah 40:11 & John 10:3) us beside "still waters" with the everlasting love of God, which is like a river, the streams whereof make glad the hearts of his people.
The quiet waters are rise to the ankles, knees, and loins, and are as a broad river to swim in; the pure river of water of life Christ leads his sheep too, and gives them to drink freely of: also communion with God, which the saints pant after, as the hart pants after the water brooks, and Christ gives access (Gill Exposition).
He longs to give us peace, rest, and repose, so He takes us to where the water is pure, clear, and almost motionless so we can refresh ourselves in Him. It’s a place where we can slow down, be quiet and still with Him, and experience His deep, pure love intimately. (steppesoffaith.medium.com).
Everything that brings relief from the ordinary pressure of daily life and revives the drooping spirits. The Music, worship, responsive readings, devotion and feeding of the word, fellowship, and friendship, and the holy communion are our areas still waters. This is sweeter than spending time in hill stations during a hot summer and very pleasant than staying in a luxurious resort to relax (G. Edward Young).
3. QUIET WATERS REFER TO ABUNDANT LIFE ON EARTH AND BEYOND
Psalm 23:2, "He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." (NLT). Philip Keller (A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23) writes that sheep do not lie down easily and will not unless four conditions are met. First of all, they are timid. So, they will not lie down if they are afraid. Secondly, they are social animals. so, they will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep. Thirdly If flies or parasites trouble them, they will not lie down. Finally, if sheep are anxious about food or hungry, they will not lie down. Rest comes because the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies, and famine (enduringword.com). Likewise, we enjoy the abundance of life on earth with Christ and he is there for all of us beyond.
“The psalmist describes himself as one of Jehovah’s flock, safe under His care, absolved from all anxieties by the sense of this protection, and gaining from this confidence of safety the leisure to enjoy, without satiety, all the simple pleasures which make up life—the freshness of the meadow, the coolness of the stream. It is the most complete picture of happiness that ever was or can be drawn. It represents that state of mind for which all alike sigh, and the want of which makes life a failure to most; it represents that heaven which is everywhere if we could but enter it, and yet almost nowhere because so few of us can” (Ellicott Commentary).
The shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures of grass and quiet streams providing water for drinking. Canaan is a dry, rocky set of rolling hills covered with sparse and tough grass. Water sources are few and often seasonal. Shepherds take their flocks on long migrations from one source of grazing and water to another. The psalmist describes abundant life in three descriptive statements—causes the sheep to lie down, makes them approach quiet waters carefully, and leads them faithfully on the correct paths (biblegateway.com).
