Devotion - Psalm 23 - He leads me beside still waters

24-04-13 Devotion for Lutheran Women Missionary League at St. Luke, Rensselaer, IN

Psalm 23 – “He leads me beside still waters.” 

Opening Prayer: Psalm 23

Let us pray… In the name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

² He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

³ He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen. 

Some years ago, I read Larry McMurtry’s book, Lonesome Dove.  We were then living in west Texas, about 90 miles from Archer City where Larry McMurtry had consolidated his bookstores and turned his hometown into a Book Town. When Marie and I visited Booked Up, we learned that we could request an autographed copy of Lonesome Dove. So, we did. And, when it came to us, we read it. 

Since then, I have gone on to read a number of McMurtry’s books. Fiction and non-fiction. After he died, Tracy Daugherty published his biography of McMurtry, aptly titled: Larry McMurtry: A Life. I had a number of questions about Mr. McMurtry that I thought a biography might answer. It did, plus a bit more. 

One of the interesting tidbits I learned is that when Mr. McMurtry sold his books to be made into a movie, he liked to show up on set while it was being filmed. He liked to be aware of what was going on and to be around as the filming progressed. And, sometimes, he was just content to call someone and hear about the day’s events. 

I don’t recall what book and movie it was, but I do recall the scene. The director had a scene where he wanted to move a flock of sheep to the water and then show them drinking from the water. When McMurtry called, it was late in the day, and he learned that it had been one of the most frustrating days on the set.  The animals would not stop to drink.  They should be very thirsty.  The sun was out, the wind was blowing, the water was right there. Why are they not drinking? 

After a couple of questions from Mr. McMurtry about where they were and the condition of the water, there was either a long sigh or some strong words, then he offered some much-needed direction. The few people on the set that knew anything about animals, did not know a thing about sheep. Cattle will drink from running water. They will drink from a brook, a stream, or a river.  Sheep will not drink from water that is in motion. They will only drink from a pond or lake or a quiet pool of water that forms as an inlet along a river.  In other words, they must be led to still waters for them to receive their refreshment. Any old water source will not do. 

Psalm 23 is not only beautiful poetry, but it is clearly written by someone who knows something about sheep. In my Bible, the Psalms that have a heading in the Hebrew have the heading translated into English. Psalm 23 begins:  A Psalm of David. 

David was not only the second king of Israel, but as the youngest son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, he was the one who tended the flock of sheep. (1 Samuel 16) David grew up to become a fearless warrior, brilliant strategist, savvy politician, musician, and poet. The man wielded his sword and his words with equal nuance and precision. In addition to all of this, from beginning to end, he was the LORD’s man. He is famous for some egregious sinning, for which he exhibited deep, heartfelt repentance. My point in all of this is that the LORD made good use of David’s talents. When he penned Psalm 23 under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he used imagery that is loaded with meaning, then, as much as now.

The poetry of Psalm 23 is such that it has, and always has had, wide appeal to people regardless of their familiarity with agriculture.  The words of Psalm 23 and an image of Jesus carrying a lamb on His shoulders may be found in a home or church that is deep within an urban setting where no one has had a connection to the soil for generations. Regardless of the lack of connection, the young hipster pastor fresh out of seminary with big ideas about how to make the church “relevant” will learn right quick that he will do well not to fool with or remove those words and image for something more urban, hip, or fresh. 

Psalm 23 is, first and foremost, a prayer. The prayer is bolstered by Jesus’ use of the image of a shepherd when speaking about Himself. The Gospel of John records 7 instances when Jesus used the phrase “I AM.” In our biblically informed imagination, we automatically connect the words I AM with God.  In particular, we recall Moses speaking to God via the Burning Bush. When God tells Moses to return to Egypt to lead his fellow Hebrews out of slavery, Moses asks a logical question, “who should I say sent me?” God says, “Tell them that I AM sent you.” 

Seven times, Jesus says in the Gospel of John, “I AM.”   When we hear those two words, we immediately think: Freedom and Promised Land. In fact that is why Jesus was born for us. He was born in Bethlehem so that he is a Son of David. And, he dies on the cross to gain for us freedom from the bondage and slavery of sin, death, and the devil. We are free from sin through forgiveness. Jesus’ resurrection defeats the stranglehold and annihilation of death. And Jesus’ obedience, even unto the cross, is a victory over Satan. The second Adam triumphs where the first Adam failed.

Through the incarnation, his obedience, the cross, and resurrection, Jesus leads us forward into our heavenly Promised Land where there will finally be no more temptation, no more crying, no more pain, nor any other shadow of this vale of tears. In the Promised Land, we will know peace, joy, and the fullest expression of God’s Shalom. 

Seven times, Jesus says, I Am.   

• I am the Bread of Life (John 6:35)
• I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
• I am the Door (John 10:9)
• I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
• I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
• I am the Way and the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
• I am the Vine (John 15:1,5)

When Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” no Christian can, or should, read Psalm 23 without immediately seeing Jesus in our minds eye as we read and contemplate this prayer. Jesus is our Lord. He is our Good Shepherd. We pray that he continues to lead us into fulfillment of our every true need and bless us abundantly in ways we cannot imagine.

Psalm 23 is not only a prayer, but also a confession of faith. In this confession, we say that we trust the Lord to lead us.  We trust Him. We are not going to interfere with His leadership.  He knows what He is doing.  We don’t always know where we are going, but because the LORD is leading us, we know that we will not be led into anything bad.  For the LORD is always about life. He created life. He promotes life. He leads us into a renewal of life. We affirm with this confession that we are cared for and that one wiser and more powerful than us is watching over us. 

We confess that the Lord leads us beside still waters. So, what are those still waters?  Well, even though the analogy is of sheep, we are not sheep.  Unlike sheep, we can drink from running water. In fact, we are not picky at all. When we are thirsty, we can use a water fountain with its running water, or we can use a glass to hold our still water. 

When we confess that the LORD leads us beside the still waters, we confess that the LORD fulfills our deepest needs. Still waters infer calm waters. It also infers a calm moment and quiet day.  The gentle breeze does not disturb the water.  The water is soothing to look at. A deep sense of contentment comes.  At this place, where the LORD leads us, we are safe. We relax. We take deep breaths. The birds sing their happy songs in the trees. There is no danger. No need to be quiet and hidden. All is well. Alongside the still waters, we are nourished by the simple fact that we can just simply be. One moment moves quietly into the next moment. There is order, tranquility, peace beside the still water. No need to rush. It is enough to just be. 

I imagine that each of us have places in our memories of where we have felt safe, loved, cared for, and nourished. Sometimes, it is outside alongside still waters. Sometimes alone, sometimes with those we love. Other memories that come to mind are falling asleep to grandpa or grandma’s heartbeat and gentle breathing in our ears as they hold us.

I have been blessed to have a number of different experiences where I felt as if I had been led beside the still waters. I am certain that I am not alone in saying that church is often a place of still waters. By church I mean both the church building and also the people. 

There is no greater gift in our hectic American landscape than to see church buildings and the crosses that they bear. Unlike other countries, our places of worship are not hidden.  They are out in the open.  So commonplace that people sometimes forget to take notice.  And the cross that the building bears is a silent but strong and clear witness to the faith of those that worship the LORD inside. 

What a gift to be able to enter a quiet worship space. To sit in the pew when no one else is around.  To look quietly and deeply at the baptismal font, where little Stanley and Rebecca received the eternal promises of God. Faith was created in those beautiful little children as water was poured upon their foreheads in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

To gaze at the Altar where the mystery of God’s presence happens. The Lord Jesus comes down amongst us still when the Pastor says those words that Jesus gave His Apostles on the night when he was betrayed. We each receive Christ and His forgiveness. “Take, eat; this is My body which is given for you” “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.”  

To look upon the cross, so quietly watching over the sheep that come to this still water. The good shepherd who knows our name was once on the cross for our sakes. He knows our sins and our joys. He knows our secrets. He knows everything about us and He loves us anyways. Behold the cross that gives life and hope to the world. 

There is the dignity and order of the liturgy. In the order of the Divine Service, there is a time for the Pastor to speak, there is a time for the congregation to speak. There is a time to sing, a time to listen, a time to pray, a time to confess, and a time to receive a blessing. 

In the place beside the still waters, we gain peace, we are restored, because here all is in order and is at should be. Our cup overflows because our LORD is with us.   

Let us pray…

Prayers

Savior Jesus, like a shepherd lead us; much we need your tender care. In your pleasant pastures feed us, for our use your fold prepare. Blessed Jesus, You have bought us; we are yours. (LSB 711 Savior, like a Shepherd lead us)

Lord Jesus, in Your earthly ministry You were loved and served by devoted women, including Mary and Martha in whose home You enjoyed rest and refreshment.  Give us grace to recognize and affirm the varied and singular gifts You bestow on women, and especially upon Lutheran Women Missionary League, that through their good work, Your kingdom may be extended, Your Church enriched, and your people lovingly served to the glory of Your holy name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.