In the lead passage of today’s devotional, King David talked about how God granted him peaceful atmosphere as well as reviving his soul. This is the plain explanation of “He leadeth me beside the still waters, and He restoreth my soul.” Shepherds do not take their flock to river that flows with speed for drinking. Such river will drown the flock. Often, shepherds would use stones to dam up running water, making it staying still like it is not flowing. Saying the LORD “maketh me to lie down beside the still waters ought to give us confidence that the LORD has the capacity to lead us to places free of troubles, misfortunes, attacks as well as where storm of life rages on. We are to understand that still waters is always peaceful and clean for drinking as nothing disturbs it as in stirring the dirt from down the river beds. If we know that the LORD can lead us beside the still waters, it means God can take us to businesses clean of frauds, marriage that is blissful, career that ends not in regrets and so on.
Naturally, the flocks under a human shepherd are subjected to hurts, bruises and open wounds due to beating with the rod and the staff of the shepherds. King David saw difference with the shepherdship of the LORD. After he was wounded, pained and bruised, the LORD relieved his soul. The LORD revived his life. He then said “the LORD restored his soul.” Taking the LORD to be our Shepherd, we must trust His ability to give us relief from hurts inflicted upon us by enemies. He knows the exact ways to guide us through to escape troubles. The LORD as our shepherd can save us from pains, sicknesses and diseases, and then releases our souls. The LORD as our shepherd is He who will revive or quickens our souls; that is bringing life back into our souls (Psa. 19: 7).
The earthly shepherd knows the right path his flock can take to avoid falling along the rough paths. The earthly shepherd guides his flock away from wrong ways. Making the LORD our shepherd ought to make us trust that He will always lead us in the paths of righteousness. When the LORD is allowed to lead us in the paths of righteousness, we will hardly disobey Him. We will in turn do things which make the LORD to be happy with us. One very important lesson here is that, the LORD does not lead us in the paths of righteousness for our glory but for His namesake. No human can do anything good except the LORD leads such a person in the way of godliness. When the LORD leads us through the paths of righteousness, our godliness will cause people to praise and honour Him.
PRAYER:
JEHOVAH GOD OF HOLINESS, I know nothing how to do things which will make you be delighted in me. However, lead me through the path of righteousness for your sake as from today, in the name of Jesus.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch