- Still Waters
Psalm 23.2
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
The Holy Spirit leads me with cords of love and by establishing a trusting relationship. I can be absolutely sure HS will always lead me aright. Now the promise is that He will lead me beside the still waters. Still means calming or soothing, not necessarily like “still waters run deep.” Still waters may be a gently babbling brook or the peaceful ripple of a slow moving stream, but it is not a raging torrent or fierce wind and waves. The effect of the image is to bring peacefulness and tranquility to mind. The sheep can drink merrily from the waters and find refreshment and rest. A stream of water is also a picture of Paradise: Revelation 22:1 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Paradise is also in the center of our hearts where the Holy Spirit dwells. We are very often in need of a Shepherd who will lead us to that peaceful paradise center, the very one we carry with us, but so often we cannot find it. It’s because we lose it that we have a Shepherd who finds. He finds us and gently carries us to that peaceful paradise place, beside still waters.
Water is one symbol of the Holy Spirit. Heavenly peace and sweet refreshments come to the soul through the Spirit of God. The Spirit flows from the Father and the Son as a silent brook of gently flowing noiseless current pure water of life proceeding from the throne. What the HS does by the gospel cleanses, softens, and refreshes. Isaiah 8:6: “The waters of Shiloah that go softly.” The waters of Shiloah remove faintness and restore strength. The HS is strengthening and comforting at all times, near, with, and within the believer. He enjoys a secret still intercourse with God. The inward teachings of HS control the heart with His quiet and peculiar influence. It is inward, deep, purifying and progressive. “The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Romans 14:17.
The Holy Spirit makes intercession with unutterable sighing, bringing our unworthy prayers before the throne of grace. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts; a blessed peace pervades; it is well of water springing up.