Mark Sorensen I have always loved the 23rd Psalm. For David, having been a shepherd himself, he was keenly aware of God’s leading in his life and used his knowledge of shepherding as an illustration as to how God meets and provides. The 23rd Psalm is rich with beauty and meaning. Take for example, verse 2. David writes, “He leadeth me beside the still waters.” As a shepherd, David would have written this with an understanding that many of us may not have. For example, did you know that when shepherds lead sheep to drink from streams, if the water had any kind of a flow or movement to it – because of sheep’s legs in proportion to their bodies – it wouldn’t take much for the moving water to cause the sheep to lose their balance and potentially get carried away downstream? So, good shepherds would know to dam up the streams and cause the water to be still so that the sheep could safely drink and find nourishment. Think about that for a moment. Isn’t that beautiful? David is saying that, even in the midst of chaos, turmoil and storms, God calms the waters of our souls and provides nourishment for us all, found within His presence.
I pray you find comfort in these words, today. I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of “rushing” and “movement” happening in my life. To say that it’s “overwhelming” seems to be an understatement at times. Yet, when I stop, when I “lie down” in the green pastures that God has provided, I always seem to find His presence amidst the “still waters” of comfort that God makes readily available whenever I need them. Good news. They are there for you, as well.
