Psalm 23:1-6 (ESV)
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
You know that feeling of satisfaction and revival you get when you take a drink from a frosty, cold glass of water after a period of patchiness, that moment, right there is how our soul and spirit feels when we allow the Great Shephard to lead us to the quiet pool of freshwater spoken of here.
Jesus then says in John 4:14 that anyone who drinks deep from this water will never thirst again- physically, not possible but spiritually, yes, for when we remain in the valley of the fountain of living spring, your pasture remains evergreen not by your works but by his infinite mercy.
We go through wilderness seasons in life as seen in Verse 4 that may cause dryness in us, we could become spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally drained, even financially sometimes and we get so patched that we seek something to refresh us, sadly in things that can’t give us long-lasting refreshment.
But we have a security blanket in God, verses 1-4, speaks of the absolute confidence we as sheep should have in the shepherd. The shepherd is the only one who according to Psalm 78:52 can guide the flock out of the wilderness season all the while comforting you through the wilderness season as promised in verse 4 and Micah 7:14.
The enemy and the storms of life has battered and bruised us on the battlefield while discharging our spiritual responsibilities and duties, the bruising is so bad that some have given up, some want to and some are contemplating, while others are struggling to keep going.
Refreshment and comfort are desperately needed, and they await us only in the presence of the Lord. Even in turbulent times, we will not be stagnant because the Lord will make still water that refreshes the body, soul and spirit available while leading and guiding us through the storms and challenges of life as He comforts us along the way.
God’s word according to psalm 19:7 can revive and refresh us, He will do everything to ensure our well-being, it is, therefore, important to trust in God to meet all our needs and as the good shepherd, He will make every provision available for us if we depend on Him.
How thirsty are you? No matter how much liquid besides water a thirsty person drinks, the thirst is never satisfied.
Because David started as a shepherd, he described his relationship with the Lord as a shepherd, one that he understood deeply, making him reliant and dependent on God for everything just as his flocks depended and relied on him to care for them.
When life exhausted David through all his struggles, battles and war-torn weariness, the Lord met his needs-all his needs. It is at times like these we come to appreciate and appropriate the opportunities the Lord provides for His people that should cost them nothing.
There is an urgent invitation from the Lord to everyone in need of fresh water in Isaiah 55:1-2, Come, everyone who thirsts. The invitation is universal.
There is a tone of a spiritual longing for the Lord through the opportunity that thirst creates, why do you spend your money when God wants to give you freely? Unbelief is costly and unfulfilling, don’t allow it to stop you from drinking God’s freshwater.
Shalom