“…He leads me beside the still waters.”
Psalm 23:2
In a day of artificial flavors and developed desire for flash sometimes we forget that common problems more often than not have common solutions. As much as Sports drinks are hyped up to pleasurably quench our thirst and benefit our bodies, scientists all across the board agree that they will never compare to the good old remedy for thirst…water.
“If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink. And out of his innermost being shall gush forth torrents of living water”
John 7:37, 38
Jesus proclaimed this in the midst of the Feast of Tabernacles, one of the three great Jewish festivals. It’s name actually explains quite a bit about the event, for seven days the Jewish people will live in makeshift shelters made of branches and leaves commemorating the days when their ancestors lived in tents wandering through the wilderness (Lev.23:40-43). The festival takes place in September/October, about six months after the events of feeding the five thousand and many disciples turning away.
On each day of the feast, the people would come with palm branches and march around the altar. A priest then took a pitcher filled with water from the Pool of Siloam, carried the water all the way to the temple courts, and poured it out over the altar as an offering to the Lord. This ceremony represented the time that the Lord brought forth water from the rock during the wilderness wanderings. On the last day of the festival, the people marched seven times around the altar illustrating the seven laps around the walls of Jericho.
I can just imagine as they round the altar, palm branches waving and all types of hooting and hollering happening, a man is seen standing up and crying out above the roar of the event.
“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” He yells.
This began a debate that is still in action today, much like the “Sports drink versus Water” debate, many people were trying to decide whether Jesus was truly the solution, and the question remains to this day. For those who have done the research however, the question is a common one which has a very simple answer, just as all scientists agree that water is hands down best for thirst, all creation testifies that Jesus is completely the way, the truth, the life, the quencher of thirst, and the sustainer of living water.
As I watched the field of sheep outside my friend’s window the other day I noticed another thing about the sheep when it came to drinking water. The shepherd approached and called, gradually all the sheep drew near, then slowly the shepherd made his way to where the sheep would drink. I witnessed as one sheep decided to trust the shepherd’s voice, then those near him followed towards the shepherd, and gradually those near them the same, leading to good water and wonderful results.
It’s an interesting and sometimes bizarre tendency that we as humans have in common with sheep. We too naturally follow each other, this sometimes is a dangerous thing being that sheep have been known to follow each other off of cliffs when spooked, and we as the human race have often followed each other away from the good Shepherd and strayed. On the other hand, there is the occasion when the nature to follow is positive, when the one who has heard the voice of the shepherd moves after the Shepherd knowing that He has always lead them well, and those that follow move closer to experiencing and understanding this lovely truth.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd, He leads us beside still waters refreshing our spirits and bringing satisfaction to our lives like no other. Choose to follow Him and you might find that your commitment has lead to the salvation of many others behind you.
Browse Timeline
Comments ( 1 Comment )
I am going to post this message for all to see in my myspace it needs to be shown to the world so they can open there eyes and be washed in the water with JEsus Hallelua!!!
Bronatedawg added these pithy words on
Nov 05 08 at
10:29 am
