HE RESTORETH MY SOUL!

HE RESTORETH MY SOUL!

Ps 23:2-3

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

3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

One scholar clarifies this beautifully in the following quote.

It refers to the spirit when exhausted, weary, or sad; and the meaning is, that God quickens or vivifies [makes alive that which is dead or dying] the spirit when thus exhausted. The reference is not to the soul as wandering or backsliding from God, but to the life or spirit as exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, worn down with care and toil. The heart, thus exhausted, He re-animates. He brings back its vigor. He encourages it; excites it to new effort; fills it with new joy.

(From Barnes' Notes)

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, certainly knows how to deal with us during times of our backsliding but this is not the case here. Because He is the Good Shepherd, He also knows how to mend us when we are broken. When the disciples wanted to press forward – He said rest. When burdened down with care, we are urged to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.

Often in the midst of urgent labor He will “make” us, or force us, to lie down in green pastures. Thus lying on the soft green earth, chewing contentedly, we are able to separate the urgent from the truly important. I am convinced that many of “my sheep” are not so much involved with sinful behavior as with urgent things that are not important.

Dear Lord, today a thousand voices will cry out for my attention. One of those voices will be your very own. Help me to hear you when you speak. Today, Lord, restore my soul. AMEN