“He Leads Me Beside Still Water”

He Leads Me Beside Still Water

by Dona Hake

It seems that many know that sheep are afraid of moving water.  I am thinking that this is more instinctive than anything.  If a sheep were to fall into water they would drown for they do not know how to swim plus the water would weight down their wool which would make it harder for them to be rescued. Therefore they are inclined to drink from water that is calm and peaceful.  Whenever I read this verse I visualize the shepherd standing beside the sheep by still water.  As the sheep is drinking he glances into the water and sees the reflection of his shepherd standing beside him watching over him.

I have heard many times that sheep are not the smartest animals in the bunch but I believe that all animals God created are blessings, and just maybe we can learn from them.    I cannot help but wonder why Jesus referred to us as being sheep.  He well understood what we are capable of if we are left to ourselves.

The  good shepherd understands that a sheep left to wander will end up drinking from a mud hole and possibly getting a parasitic disease.   Sheep MUST be led to fresh pure water.  Again, I think our meditation should rest on how if we left to ourselves could possibly make decisions that could create harmful consequences. We need to look for the divine leading of our Good Shepherd so we are not drinking of the impure things of this world.  As we look to His leading in every area of our lives we can avoid a lot of pain and sorrow.

I came across a fact in my reading that sheep can actually go for months without drinking water.  This shepherd explained that a sheep’s tendency is to rise early to eat the grass that is drenched with the clean and pure dew that rests upon the grass.  What a beautiful analogy because as we seek Him and His Word early or before any task, we too can spiritually ingest that which our soul thirsts for.  His Word is full of all that we need so our soul will be satisfied!

John 4:14
Amplified Bible
“But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more. But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life.”

Isaiah 58:11

“He will satisfy my soul in drought.”

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