Psalm 23: He leads me beside the”Still Waters.”
The “still waters” of the Good Shepherd are freely offered to thirsty souls. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, which King David wrote about in Psalm 23. Unfortunately, most people have refused to drink from the waters that truly satisfy them. In an allegorical sense, people choose dirty pond scum rather than good clean water that would refresh their souls. Jesus spoke of living water that if a person drank from they would never be thirsty again. He wasn’t implying that a Christian would never thirst again. It’s a spiritual metaphor for the lasting fulfillment that comes from knowing the true God as opposed to false gods or empty pursuits.
The words of Christ found in the Bible offer what everyone wants, but only a few choose to take advantage of them. The Rolling Stones had it right when they sang the popular song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.”
Too many thirsty people
Why do thirsty people try to quench their thirst with things that don’t satisfy them?
In the 2008 James Bond movie, ‘Quantum Solace,’ we have a great word picture that can help us understand why. Near the close of the movie, we see the villain is sent out into a desert; alone and with no water. He is given a can of motor oil to quench his thirst if he gets desperate. He gets desperate and hastens his own death when he drinks the only liquid he has in the dry barren landscape. The villain, like many people, drinks from the pond scum that is close at hand instead of pursuing the pure living water spoken by Jesus. It’s a bad choice that many around the world make every day. They hasten their own demise when they drink filth from poisoned wells.
This article is part of a series highlighting an important book. “A shepherd looks at Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller.
Christians in pursuit of inspiring books would be wise to add it to their library. The intent of these articles is to entice the reader’s interest in this book and to seek out a copy of his or her own collection of great Christian books.
An excerpt from the Still Waters chapter
“When sheep are thirsty they become restless and set out in search of water to satisfy their thirst. If not led to good water supplies of clean, pure water, they will often end up drinking from the polluted potholes where they pick up such internal parasites as nematodes, liver flukes, or other disease germs.
And in precisely the same manner Christ, our Good Shepherd, made it clear that thirsty souls of men and women can only be fully satisfied when their capacity and thirst for spiritual life is fully quenched by drawing on Himself.
In Matthew 5:6 He said,
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled (satisfied).”
At the great feast in Jerusalem, He declared boldly, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink.” “To drink” in spiritual terminology simply means “take in” – or “to accept” – or “to believe.” That is to say, it implies that a person accepts and assimilates the very life of God in Christ to the point where it becomes a part of him.
The difficulty in all of this is that men and women who are “thirsty” for God (who do have a deep inner sense of searching and seeking; who are in quest of that which will completely satisfy) often are unsure of where to look or really what they are looking for. Their inner spiritual capacity for God and divine life is desiccated and in their dilemma, they will drink from any dirty pool to try and satisfy their thirst for fulfillment.
Saint Augustine of Africa summed it up so well when he wrote, “O God! Thou hast made us for Thyself and our souls are restless, searching, ’til they find their rest in Thee.”
All the long and complex history of earth’s religions, pagan worship, and human philosophy is bound up with this insatiable thirst for God.”
The Good Shepherd leads thirsty souls to still waters
Isaiah 55:1 still waters for the thirsty
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
Revelation 22:1 Still waters flow from God’s throne
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
John 4:10 Jesus is the Good Shepherd offering peaceful waters
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
John 4:14 Come to the cool waters and drink
“But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
No lasting satisfaction can be found outside of Christ Jesus. Yes, that is in bold opposition to all of the other religions in the world. Our Heavenly Father made the world and the rules. He didn’t send many Saviors. He sent One. If you miss this One, you may as well drink motor oil to find satisfaction to quench your thirsty soul. It’s a free gift but you still have the choice of where you choose to drink. Stay thirsty if you want, or be satisfied forever. 🙂
Only Jesus satisfies the terms of eternal security we find described in the Bible. Seen here.
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White Stone Watcher
Hello readers,
I’ve served as a children and youth pastor for over three decades. It was a great honor and pleasure to serve the Lord in that way. It’s been my prayer, that many of them will learn of Jesus’ love and decide to commit their lives to follow Him.
I wrote the fiction story, ‘White Stone Watcher’ for them and their parents. In the story, we see a young man, and his best friend, Amanda. They face the normal challenges that today’s kids face at school. But with one huge difference.
Their challenge is twelve feet tall to be exact with an enormous set of six wings. Just like the prophet Isaiah saw in the throne room of God. He’s a Watcher, an angelic being who is still invisible to Amanda. The messenger from God is about to lead both of them on a spiritual journey. They find they can’t escape the unseen war that rages all around them. They will become key players that God will use in the battle between the Sons of Darkness and the Children of Light.
I invite you to pray about a youth who might enjoy and benefit from this story. As the world grows darker, our youth must become aware that the Lord is calling them to join the Children of Light in the fight for what is righteous. We’re all involved, whether we realize it or not. If they don’t go to church, maybe they’ll read a book about someone just like them facing challenges at school.
God is calling them.
Praying for the youth, and spiritual awakening.
Pastor Doug
Let me know what you think.