UpperLoft Meditation – 6/16

The 23rd Psalm has dried many tears.  God’s provision is in the heart of the psalm.

First, consider some facts about sheep and water.  It has been estimated that about 70 percent of a sheep’s body is composed of water.  Water is necessary for a sheep to maintain normal body metabolism.  It helps determine the sheep’s vitality, strength, and vigor.  Believers recognize immediately that  Jesus is the strength of their lives.  He supplies all needs.

Second, the right kind of water must be supplied.  The water must be still or sheep will not drink it.  Noisy, rapidly moving water is frightening to sheep.  Swift water is dangerous.  The water must be pure or the sheep will pick up parasites and disease.  Apart from the protecting hand of the shepherd, sheep will pause at puddles of polluted water.  The Great Shepherd leads his children to that which is pure and healthy.

Finally, the place of still water is a resting place and a place of refreshment.  The need of the human soul is described in the word thirst (Matthew 6:5).  The soul must be nourished by the right things.  Each person must guard against taking in that which is harmful.  The Shepherd directs in this matter.  The thirst of the human soul is quenched by the one who gives the water that, when partaken of, causes the believer to never thirst again.

This “water takes many forms:

1. Dew - This makes the early mornings a good time to refresh oneself spiritually.
2. Wells - This means labor for the shepherd. He must draw the water and make it available for the sheep.
3. Deep, quiet streams – The deep things of life are what count.

Jesus knows every need of the human heart and has promised to meet each need.

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