“He leads me beside the still waters…” Psalm 23.2
Dear Ones:
“Stillness” is something that is usually not engaged in, or it is feared. In western culture, we are tempted to “do, do, do,” when the Bible tells us that there are times when we are to be still and wait. Let us be clear about stillness as opposed to passivity. Quietness of spirit, and perhaps of circumstances, is not a passive endeavor. On the contrary, the believer who is still, is actively waiting, looking to Jesus, even seeking Him in His word. The pressures and frenzied activity of the world’s systems and mentality, are shunned and turned aside from. Why? It is in the stillness that good and right impressions in mind and heart become convictions of the soul. These convictions will direct and guard the course of our lives. It has been said that “…God makes us go slower in order to go faster.” What does this mean? The convictions that God gives in the quiet and stillness of fellowship and communion with Him, enable us to truly go efficiently, and steadily, faster in our service to, for, and by Him. He brings us to an understanding of what His will is, and the knowledge of the resources in Christ for the realization of it.
There are truly very few men like David mentioned in the Bible. It is amazing that a man who should live so long ago, being so far removed from “modern man,” and his concepts of life, should reveal to us the great truths of knowing God. In his epic Psalm 23, he paints us a most lovely, detailed picture of what it means to have fellowship with our Creator, Father, and Savior. The call of God to our hearts is one where there is “no want,” for He satisfies the heart. There are green pastures for nourishment, and still waters to satisfy our thirst. It is in this context that he “restores the soul.” What does this mean? And what is a soul? When God created man, He created him a “living soul,” with intellect, emotion, and will. In creating him in His own image, God provided so that He could have communion with the man, and vice versa. It is only because of man being in the image of God that communion with God is possible. In our present day, this “soul” of man is faced with a multitude of enemies which war against it, seeking to destroy it, and prevent it from having fellowship with God. Our enemy, Satan, and his demons, are always seeking to destabilize, and knock the soul off-balance. He hinders, tempts, opposes, and oppresses men. The whole of his attack on man is to prevent him from having communion with God, for it is by this communion that man truly lives. In this context, there are times when the soul needs to be “restored,” brought back to that place of walking with the Lord, abiding in Him. The One who is able to provide perfectly for the soul brings him into green pastures and beside still waters. THERE He speaks His life-giving, and soul-restoring word. The soul in faith is then restored to fellowship.
Dear Father, when buffeted in this world, and by this world’s system of unbelief, give us to run quickly to the wonderful, Restorer of our souls, the Great Shepherd of the sheep. Enable us to know what it means for Christ to lead us into green pastures, and beside still waters, to speak to our hearts, and meet the deep needs of our souls. Then we shall be certainly restored to fellowship with Thee. We thank Thee in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad