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I. STILL WATERS ARE DISTASTEFUL TO THE WORLDLY SPIRIT. Men of the world seek for novelty and excitement, but their pleasures dry up like a summer brook. The edge of appetite gets dulled, and he succeeds best who can give fresh keenness to the world's appetite. Still waters? No! These to worldly hearts would be misery. We can, however, often see behind all these brilliances of earth. Within, there is an aching, dying soul.

II. STILL WATERS MAKE US HEAR THE VOICE OF OUR SAVIOUR. Sometimes silence itself is rest.

III. STILL WATERS ARE NOT STAGNANT WATERS. They are deep, pure, living, flowing. The waters are living waters. True of the Bible.

IV. STILL WATERS ARE IN THE KEEPING OF CHRIST. The Shepherd has beforehand surveyed the mountains and the plains. What road are we to take when there seems no path? Amid the broken debris of rocks the Shepherd leads the way.

V. STILL WATERS ARE WITH US ALL THE JOURNEY THROUGH. "Beside" them. The path and the waters go together. We may miss some joys, they are temporary — suited to certain tastes and eras in our life. The curtain has fallen over them. Can that photograph represent your childhood? Can you ever live again as once you did? As the rivers from their simple fountain — along their broadening course — flow into the sea, so these other "waters" lead on to the great ocean of immortality. Listen for the voice of the Good Shepherd. Human hearts hungry for the sacrament of truth hear Him. By the still waters of meditation and Scripture and prayer, we make silence in our hearts for Him.

(W. M. Statham.)

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KJV: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

WEB: He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.