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Day Seventeen
As we sit with the image of water for this week, let’s think for a moment of the different ways water appears in the word of God. To name just a few, in the pages of the scripture we can find water:
—present from the first day of creation in the very first book of the Bible
—used by God to cleanse the earth in the days of Noah
—parted at the Red Sea, providing escape for the Hebrews
—a source of healing, like in the story of Naaman
—a sign of cleansing, as in the baptisms of John and then the early church
—turned miraculously into wine by Jesus in his first public miracle
—a picture Jesus uses to describe the life he gives to those who believe in him
—pouring from the side of Jesus at his crucifixion
—offered as a spiritual gift to all whose souls are thirsty in the very last book of the Bible
Water is such a powerful symbol. It gives us much to meditate on in our spiritual walk.
For today, there is another association with water from scripture that we would do well to remember. It’s one pictured in what may be the most well-known Bible passage in the world:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.”—Psalm 23:1-3a (NIV)
Water can mean many things for us in our spiritual walk, but the most simple one may be the one we need today most of all: water is refreshing.
It’s true for our bodies, and it’s also true for our souls. As the psalmist describes, there is something profoundly restorative about being near water, whether it’s a trickling stream or the pounding waves of the ocean on a beach.
Businesses understand this well—there’s a whole industry out there built up around this facet of water. From recordings and phone apps that replicate sound of beaches and rivers…to artwork featuring coastlines and lighthouses…to desktop fountains that keep a steady trickle in the background of your day—if you need something peaceful, you’ll often find someone selling you something that’s linked to water. And of course, the cruise industry banks on our desire to associate water with relaxation and rest.
Water restores. Water refreshes. And isn’t it true that we could use that right now?
What we’re reminded in Psalm 23 is that the Lord our shepherd invites us daily into his presence, where we find that being with him is like sitting next to quiet waters and finding our souls renewed. And what’s amazing is that this gift is available to us no matter where we might find ourselves. It’s not dependent on our environment or our circumstances—wherever we are, there is opportunity to stop, quiet ourselves, and be reminded that the Lord is our shepherd. He takes care of our every need.
He refreshes our soul.
Below you will find a few different versions of Psalm 23 set to music. In our Reflections for today, you will be invited to read the psalm prayerfully and respond to a few questions.
Time of Reflection
Begin this time of reflection by reading through the psalm a few times, slowly and prayerfully, and listening for what God is stirring in your soul as you read.
Psalm 23 (NIV)
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
1) How have you experienced God as the shepherd who brings rest and a refreshing of your soul?
2) What practices help you enter into that time of refreshing? How might you build them into your day more regularly, embracing the invitation to those quiet waters no matter where you might be?
3) Sometimes “he makes me lie down” seems to happen almost literally in our lives, when God forces us to stop what we’re doing and recalibrate. How open are you to God doing a dramatic work like that in your life? Spend some time in prayer asking God to do whatever is needed to help keep you centered on his presence and power.
4) Note that in the language of the psalm, God’s guidance comes after the time of rest and refreshing. What might that have to say to us as we consider our own journey of discipleship and discernment?