Devotionals

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STILL WATERS

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:2 KJV

I have read this psalm many times, and understood the analogy of the water referring to Jesus as the living waters, the source of satisfaction for all those who thirst. But on a recent reading, the word “still” jumped out. Why did David choose to describe “still waters” instead of a babbling brook or a rushing waterfall, also wonderful imagery? What is so special that he specified still waters, or more literally “waters of quietness”?

One evening, just at dusk, I looked out my window and saw the lake was so still it was like a mirror. Recalling the psalm, I went out and sat on the shore to meditate on this verse.

The first thing that struck me was the reflective quality peculiar only to still waters. Like still waters, we best reflect the Lord when we can “Be still and know that I am God”. (Psalm 46:10) To be like Him, we must know Him, and to know Him, we must spend time in quiet meditation listening to Him speak to our hearts. Even the slightest ripple in the water obliterates the reflective quality, as our sins obliterate the way our lives should reflect God.

Then I looked down into the waters. At first all appeared dark, still, and barren. But as I continued to look and my eyes adjusted, I saw it was teeming with life! I remembered how I resisted the Christian walk for so long because I thought it was a bleak existence; no fun, no excitement, just boring legalism. Then the Lord led me to the waters, and I looked in and found that it was not bleak, but it was life, and “life to the full”. In looking into the living waters of Jesus, I saw, in fact, that there is no life apart from Him. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). Those still, deep waters give life, contain life, and sustain life.

I sat for the longest time watching, listening. There was no sound, no ripple, no other sights to distract me. Just peace. Not just any peace, but the Lord’s peace. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). In the midst of his myriad of troubles, David knew this peace as he was led beside the still waters. You can know it too. Become as the sheep, humble and trusting, and let the Good Shepherd lead you beside the still waters.

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