Mon “He leads me beside still waters…”

Water in the Bible can be good or bad for you, depending on how it is applied and how much is applied. The Egyptians, at the Red Sea, drowned but the children of God were blessed with a little sprinkling as they went through on dry ground. The Lord cleanses us by His water as He drowns His enemies by the same water. We have been cleansed every whit that we might journey to the promised land as He leads us, eating at His Table, drinking the Wine of the Kingdom, celebrating our deliverance from the death angel in Egypt until He comes again. I Cor. 10:1-11

Tue “He leads me beside still waters…”

Sheep can be spooked by turbulent water. They prefer still water. It is safe. The wicked are like the troubled sea that casts up its dirt and mire, but the righteous graze peacefully by water that is at peace. “Peace be still,” Jesus said to the threatening waves, and it was so, and still is. Mark 4:35-41

Wed “He restores my soul…”

David had tasted defeat in his life and also the frustration of having yielded to temptation. Even the strongest sheep can fall into a trap or fall prey to a predator. Our Shepherd not only protects us, He also restores when we fall. Proverbs 8:20, 21

Thu “He restores my soul…”

We face many trials and hardships in life. Our Shepherd does more than help us cope. He "sanctifies to us our deepest distress," as the hymn puts it. We can rest assured that our Shepherd will never ask more of us than we can bear, and that He will turn everything to our good if we but trust Him. Hebrews 12:1-2

Fri “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake…”

Sheep must be led, for it is in their nature to go astray: “All we like sheep have gone astray.” The key to life for the sheep is for the Shepherd to keep His sheep on the move, leading them to new and flourishing pastures. The Bible calls this sanctification. May we this day follow our Lord as He leads us. Psalm 5:8

Sat “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake...”

Our Shepherd's paths are paths of righteousness. Our part is not to grudgingly follow, but to "hunger and thirst" for the righteousness those paths lead to. Psalm 31:3-5 & John 10:11-18