David’s Ark
He leads me beside the still waters Psalm 23:2
Still – Actually, the Hebrew word here isn’t “still,” although that could be one of the nuances. The word is menuhot (plural) from nuah (to rest, to repose, to be quiet). It is the same root that produces Noah, the man who brought rest to the world (although, obviously, not the way the world expected). Why do we care about this little correction? Because the rabbis connected this word, menuhah, with the Sabbath.
“To the biblical mind menuha is the same as happiness and stillness, as peace and harmony. . . It is the state in which there is no strife and no fighting, no fear and no distrust. The essence of the good life is menuha. . . . In later time menuha became a synonym for the life in the world to come, for eternal life.”[1]
Life is a storm. Sabbath is rest. Life is chaos. Sabbath is harmony. Life is war. Sabbath is peace. Each time we enter into the sacred event of Sabbath, we find ourselves sheltered in that ark, floating over the waters that brought disobedience to an end. Each time we experience the presence of God in the holiness of the day, we discover we are fed, clothed, sheltered and guided by the Good Shepherd. David might have had a picture of the quiet waters of the Jordan in mind when he wrote this psalm, but he was thinking of God’s rest and our participation when he chose menuhah.
Perhaps we need to remember David’s ark at the end of this week. Perhaps life has just beaten us up. We are tired in the world of ‘atsav. We have pulled the last thistle, managed the last stress and handled the last rocky row for awhile. We need peace, repose and tranquility. We need a slice of heaven on earth. We can find it in the waters of menuhah. If worship is just more noise, more activity, more obligation, more hustle and bustle, then you need Sabbath. If there is no day, no time, when you are wrapped in tranquility, then you need Sabbath. If you know that you’re burning the candle at both ends and your days are numbered, then Sabbath is the antidote to “civilized” behavior.
As we draw closer to the end, the spin cycle of sin accelerates. The enemy would seduce you to move faster and faster. The rate of decay is only rivaled by the rate of ignorance of God’s rest. This we know – God is in no hurry. Are you?
Where is harmony with the God of the living found among your agendas?
Topical Index: Sabbath, still, menuhah, Noah, Psalm 23:2
[1] Abraham Heschel, The Sabbath, p. 23.
For me, rest is one of the hardest things for me to do. My mind goes a million miles a minute through all the things I need to accomplish – for my family, my work, and so on. My family is starting to keep the Sabbath, although I must say it’s not necessarily restful (yet)… but it’s a sweet time to be together and a great excuse to say “no” to some of the other things that beg for attention. Even then, I find myself struggle to just relax.
It’s an interesting thought that God’s not in a hurry. Because we don’t get the in-between times, it’s easy to forget that it was years and even decades between the events we read about in the Bible, even those that tell us about Yeshua’s life often clump together many days and week’s worth of teachings (like in Matthew). God isn’t Dora (if you have little kids, you know what I mean). He isn’t constantly saying, “Let’s go go go!” and rushing off to the next obstacle on the map.
I think part of the problem (at least with me) is that Greek mentality of time… We live by the clock (especially as a teacher). God doesn’t. I love the fact that there is no Hebrew word for time. That alone should tell me something about the lack of priority that He places on it.
Thanks, Skip, for reminding us to stop and breathe and be (in an active, restful way, of course).
God is in no hurry. Are you? Thank you brother Skip for this statement and question this morning.
It is fascinating to me that God commands man in the midst of overwhelming abudance and provision. He calls them to joy and to enjoy and then from that place to rest and contentment. {the Sabath} This is a beautiful picture of our Father the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd has provided! May we all find rest under His shadow!
I have battled anxiety for most of my adult life. There was a time that the chaos of the day, of life itself, flowed through me, sweeping me along with it. Even when my circumstances were “still” anxiety and chaos reigned within.
Not anymore. God has brought me to this Sabbath rest within. The rapids of chaos still churn and roil around me, but they don’t enter anymore. Or at least, when they do find a crack and seep through, His Word always seals up the breach. We cannot depend on controlling our circumstances to obtain peace. They are too fickle. “If only” never comes. I’ll take the circumstances in the rare instance when they cooperate, but I find THAT “peace” to be temporary and elusive at best, and they cannot sustain me.
It is indeed an ark. The enemy cannot penetrate.
Hi L Brown,
I can relate to your experience with the following minor changes:
– God (can bring) me to this Sabbath rest within.
– When (anxiety does) find a crack and seep through, His Word always seals up the breach.
Shalom,
Indeed Skip … Ha Shabbat is our rest and is representative of the inheritance (Yeshua) that is ours’ in and through HIM alone!
Within Ha Shabbat is interwoven the glory and mysteries of all Mo’adim. “Heaven on Earth” … and as it is declared in Scriptures … by appointment only!
HE is waiting … faithfully … as only true love and compassion can! 🙂
A few years ago, I picked up my son from a daily after-school activity at Curtner elementary school.
And was surprised to find a typed 5×7 sheet of paper entitled The Good Shepherd – Psalm 23.
On the one hand, I was surprised that they were teaching “religion” at a secular school.
On the other hand, I’d never noticed that The Good Shepherd was Psalm “23.”
I’d lived on the beach in Del Mar on 23rd street when I first read Psalm 23 at UCSD.
And The Good Shepherd was one of my favorite movies.
In the movie, the American spy was codenamed Mother (hero of Brecht’s Mother Courage).
And the Marxist spy was codenamed Ulysses (hero of Homer’s Odyssey).
The theme of the movie revolves around the failure of the Father/Son relatioship at all levels.
There is a great review of the movie wrirren by Manohla Dargis.