Water is essential for life. If there is one thing all living creatures have in common, it is the dependance on water. Shepherds understand that the health and well being of their flock depends on a clean fresh source of water. Some of the most frantic times for me as a shepherd was when the water supply for the flock was somehow disrupted. Several times the water supply line froze and the automatic water troughs went dry. Another time, the pump for the main well failed and I had to replace it.
My favorite sheep chapter in the Bible is Psalm 23. It is packed with sheep truths. One of the verses says, My cup runs over. (verse 5) To most this stimulates images of a cup of drink that spills over on the table. However, it is a more powerful portrayal of a real life sheep and shepherd. In those times, shepherds often led their sheep over rocky terrain and high lands to get forage to eat. Much of the climate was arid and sheep were mainly a desert animal. Streams of water were scare and some distance apart. Streams of water that did flow were fast and sheep were scared to drink. Water would literally flow through the cracks in the stones and rocks.
A shepherd would take time to chisel out a drinking bowl or cup on the top of a rocky ledge or stone and direct the water flow into the man-made cup. Once the cup was full of water, the cup would overflow. The sheep could then drink of the water without danger or fear. If the water supply was not dependable, then the cup would run dry at times during the year. A good shepherd could locate and provide a cup that overflowed.
This is great picture of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. He understood our need of water. In John 4, he called himself the “Living Water”. This is an image of Jesus being our source of life and health. Daily, as we thirst for water, we come to him and he provides. Not just a little, or with measure. We do not come to find the cup empty and dry. NO! The cup runs over!
Think of it…Jesus gave his life and died to be our living water. He saw the thirst of our souls and paid the ultimate price to fill our cup.
I am thankful for the day when I surrendered my life to follow Jesus Christ. I become his sheep. He poured his abundance into my life.
Now my cup runs over…
Does yours?
Thank you for this blog. I’ve read through every post and I’m looking forward to the next.