Psalm 23 begins as if a sheep is talking... boasting in fact, that The Lord is his shepherd.
Sheep, like most animals, require a source of water. Without water, an animal will dehydrate, becoming weak and impoverished. The sheep knows that it needs water by its thirst. Just like the sheep's need for physical water, our spiritual bodies thirst for the living water of the Holy Spirit of the living God. If the sheep is not provided with good drinking water by the shepard, the sheep will set out to find water themselves. Very likely it will drink from the first mud hole it finds, usually contaminated with feces. It will get internal parasites and germs from contaminated water. Likewise people often thirst for God, but don't know what they are looking for or where to get it. In the best sense, a person "drinks" or "takes in" by "accepting" or believing" in the Lord Jesus Christ. But often we look in for fulfillment in work, hobbies, yoga, religions, or even family. When our thirst is really for God, our only fulfillment will be in Him.
Sheep are afraid of raging streams! They will run away rather than drink if they are scared. Good water for sheep then is available from three sources: 1) Early morning dew on the grass and leaves; 2) Dug wells; and 3) Springs or streams. The shephard must lead the sheep to these sources. Dew is the ultimate "still" water. Sheep can survive for some months of the year on just the morning dew, if it's not too hot. But a lazy shephard will not usually bother to get up before dawn to lead his sheep to lush pastures covered with dew. In a spirtual sense, if we feed on God's word early in the morning, with meditation and prayer, we will be refreshed, content, and quietly satisfied. Similarly, the shephard leads his sheep to wells that he has labored to dig or springs and streams that he has searched out and found. These are all sources of still or quiet waters.
God calls us sheep. It is not particularly a complimentary term. Yet, the illustration of this psalm applies also to people. Only our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, can give us living water. Are you thirsty? Are you searching for fulfillment and satsisfaction? Jesus boldly says, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come unto me and drink."
Arnie Ensfield Nov. 10, 2008