HE RESTORETH MY SOUL
PSALMS 23
INTRODUCTION
The beautiful 23rd Psalm what a treasure to the people of God.
Notice the clause, " he restoreth my soul".
David himself a shepherd remembered that about 4 in the morning, the shepherd would call the sheep by name, and lead them out into the pastures.
Each sheep takes a definite place in line, and holds that position, as they constantly move along and graze.
Sometimes during the day each sheep leaves its place in the flock and makes its way to the shepherd.
The shepherd rubs its head, muzzle, and ears. The shepherd checks the sheep all over.
Sometimes shepherds would whisper into the sheep's ears, words that
would tame and calm them even more.
DAVID CIRCUMSTANCES AS SHEPHERD AND SHEEP
David remembered quite well for he himself was very very close to Jehovah.
Though the information is very skimpy at times, we can read between the lines.
How in early childhood, a young man named David roamed the Judean
hills keeping a flock of sheep for his father.
I Samuel 16:11, 19
What a marvelous experience for a young man, assuming responsibilities, mindful of his charge and duty.
Ample opportunity to exhibit raw courage.
David remembered that God was near him, and that God protected him.
You recall in the matter of Goliath, when he explained this to King Saul., David's explanation of his assurance that was that God was with him. I Samuel 17:37
David recounted, how that when the lion and the bear moved against the
flock, he took them by the beard and smote them.
I Samuel 17:34-37
Here is a young man and this happened prior too his seventeenth birthday, for he was at that age when he walked with confidence into the valley of Elah, I Samel 17:19
The setting is on the field of carnage, an awesome situation. Enough to overpower the mind of a young man.
Impending death and carnage is everywhere
Two armies are heavily fortified and armed. Both camped on opposite sides of the valley of Elah. I Samuel 17:1-2
The armies are about to engage in combat in the which, many will not walk away.
A seventeen year old boy, bring gifts to the captain over his brethren, and food for those of his household. I Samuel 17:17-18
A giant walks from out of the ranks of the Philistines. The giant
is approximately 9 feet and 6 inches high.
This giant challenges the armies of the living God to send a
man that will fight with him. I Samuel 17:4-8
The giant said, "if he overcomes me we will be your servants. If I slay him then you will become our servants". I Samuel 17:9
The armies of Israel trembled with good reason. I Samuel 17:11
Saul is not as he should have been, and once was, close to God. I Samuel 16:14
Saul had been presumptuous in his actions. Saul was insecure
with his position over the people.
His insecurity bred insecurity among his followers. His ability
and timidity was questioned. I Samuel 15:19
The Philistine Giant is armed to the teeth, skilled in mortal combat.
There are no takers. None would accept
the challenge. I Samuel 17:24
David heard the challenge a time or two. David said ,"I will go meet him". I Samuel 17:26,29,32
Saul said, "you are but a boy and he a man of war from his youth". You can't fight with him. I Samuel 17:33
David said, "when the lion and the bear rose against me, God fought the battle for me. And no loss will be done as this Philistine falls to the power of God. I Samuel 34-37
David walks valiantly into the valley.
David was like the Benjaminites of Judea that carried a sling. 500 men in benjamin left handed that could sling a stone from a sling to a hair's breadth and not miss. Judges 20:16
A pretty good weapon in that day. A stone from the sling had tremendous velocity.
David went to the brook that ran in the valley, which is still there
today and reached down and chose five smooth stones and placed them in
his bag. I Samuel 17:40
David then walked to the giant that cursed him by his god Dagon.
The heathen God worship by the Philistine gods.
I Samuel 17:43
He offered to give the body of david to the fowls of the air. I Samuel 17:44
In Alabama language the buzzards will eat your flesh!
David came out at a good pace. He said the God of Israel who you have defiled will deliver you into my hand this day and I will take your head from your body and he ran straight to the giant with the sling in his hand. I Samuel 17:44-48
David knew exactly what was going to happen with the projectile when he let it go.
The stone sank deep in the forehead of the philistine giant and he fell forward to the ground. I Samuel 17:49
David having no sword of his own stripped the giant of his and decapitated the enemy of God then took the head into the camp of Saul. I Samuel 17:51,55
God almighty was very close to David.
When David was jealous of God, when David was concerned with God's people, when David was interested in the name of Jehovah being spread abroad upon this earth.
God took a hand in David's life and affairs.
David was close to God, and our Lord led David down the pathway to
success.
Everything David did prospered, and David behaved himself wisely. God simply under girded this young man, who was bent on doing the will of the father.
But then David began to be successful and was looked up to and respected. David was attributed as vanquishing tens of thousands and Saul vanquished his thousands. I Samuel 18:6
David maintained his humility unto the Lord. Finally David was appointed King. II Samuel 2:4
For seven and a half years he reigned in Hebron and the balance of his
40 year reign was spent in Jerusalem. II Samuel 2:11
David had attained his goals and was now king. David is very successful
and powerful.
David after he became successful began to slip in his dependence and
zeal for God's will.
Understand me, David never ceased to talk to God, never ceased to realize God is.
David always spoke and acted as if God was there. But like we
in our lives David began to think and act like he
didn't need the Lord.
The lord was not needed in the small things and decisions of David.
God was placed on a back burner by David.
David then sinned.
He arose from the bed and walked on the rooftop of his home and over
the parapets of the house
he saw a woman bathing. Never mind that she was the wife of another
man. He lusted in his heart.
Committed adultrey with her then killed her husband.
II Samuel 11:1-27
David coveted for the woman, committed adultery and murder. David
had forgotten God.
When David was a shepherd boy he had nothing to live with and everything to live for.
He had his aims, aspirations, desires, his determination, to serve God and to serve his people Israel.
Now that he has attained everything he has nothing to live for supposedly. David then engaged in those terrible sins.
A great deal of heartache and grief will come to his house. As a result a sword will never depart from his house, although God had put away David's sin. II Samuel 12:10
David realized what he had done. He remembered his nearness to God.
David repented and called upon the Lord.
II Samuel 12:13
God heard and forgave and restored. He restoreth my soul, Psalms 51:1-12
The sheep do not always function as they should, They do not always stay where they should be. They are not always in an environment of safety, but that is the tasks of the shepherd. John 10:1-18
The good shepherd is very concerned and hears, and looks for the sheep that are encountering problems.
I read recently of an account from a shepherd as he read the 23rd Psalm. He said a common problem of sheep this that they roll into depressions. Ewes heavy with lamb heavy with wool roll on their backs, and cannot regain their footing. This is called a cast sheep.
One of the major problems for the shepherd was looking for the cast sheep. Somewhere in a depression, somewhere lost behind as they sheep move and graze.
If the sheep is not found soon, circulation departs from the lower extremities,
and if the sun is very hot they will soon die.
THE RESTORATION OF THE SHEPERD
David was a cast down sheep. On occasions we are all cast down. The good shepherd will leave the healthy 99 sheep in the wilderness and seek for the lost sheep and carry that lost one back. Luke 15:4-6
God never leaves us. Sure we are cast down. Many times we find ourselves in life's depressions.
By ourselves we are unable to move, but God is always searching for the lost cast sheep. Luke 19:10
God wants you to realize the condition you are in. God wants you
to remember the closeness you once shared with him.
If you will obey and recognize the Lord and turn from wickedness then God who loves us will restore us.
God is the good shepherd seeking to save and restore us. John 10:11
The human mind is like the human body it can suffer a wound. Sorrow is a wound.
In life we can respect someone or a person that has done so much for us. Maybe like our mother. We need to respect and honor them.
Sometimes we become slack and callous and don't visit or call as we
ought. We love them dearly, but become
caught up in things. We neglect and forget them on occasion.
Down the stream of time, somewhere that relationship will be severed by death
We often think we will do better, and become closer some other time.
Then the day of death arrives and maybe
we haven't functioned and cared as we should.
Oh, we have cared and are concerned. But maybe we haven't express our feelings enough or as we ought.
So when mom passes over into eternity, there is an agony and pain of spirit.
A wound to the soul of man that is clean. That God will heal by the anointment of time.
By the goodness of God time and its power will heal that wound.
We then will give thanks for our mother and what we had. God will
enable us to help others who are hurting also.
Compassion is deepened by the sorrows we endure. Yet if we allow that wound becomes infected:
You can receive a wound in the body and a scab will form and unless infection takes over it will heal.
Infection must be kept from the wound of sorrow.
If bitterness or self pity gets in there, If I blame the Lord, or
think I am the only one in pain. If I have resentment in my heart
and mind, the sorrow will not heal it will destroy me.
Doing wrong is a wound, no question about it.
When I walk contrary to the will of the Lord, I wound my mind and soul.
I have a conscience made in God's image. When I refuse to do God's
will, my conscience aches and causes pain. My
conscience is warning me of danger and spiritual infection.
God's word chastises me. A wound not taken care of becomes unclean and infected.
Wrong doing is a great wound that only the great Physician can take care of .
He restoreth my soul. Psalms 23:3
What comforting language, as I realize my condition as a sheep in the fold of the good shepherd.
When I realize, I walk on his earth, eat his food, wear his clothing, and breathe his air, and enjoy his sunshine
James 1:17 "For every good gift and every perfect gift
is from above, and cometh down from the father of lights
with whom there is no variableness neither sharow of turning."
How marvelous the love of the shepherd for the sheep.
How genuine is his concern for my welfare. How abundant the blessings he bestows on me every day of my life.
A young lady walked into the church office. She was married and
had three children, she was a fine lady.
She had tears in her eyes, and was carrying a heavy burden because
of an unclean wound.
This lady sat down and talked about someof her attitudes and actions.
Desiring to be a christian mother, loving wife,
faithful child of God. her actions were bearing down on her.
Her wrongs made her feel unclean and spiritually sick.
In that session we talked about human frailty and weakness. We
talked about the love and merciful grace of God.
We talked about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
In short we were talking about the love of the good shepherd for his
sheep. Thus we prayed, and when she arose
from that prayer. I saw tears streaming down her cheeks.
The tears were of joy and understanding.
She was able to see and understand, as a sheep in the pasture she doesn't
always do the right thing.
Sometimes she finds herself in a difficult circumstance, that threatens
to crush the very life from us.
But the good shepherd is concerned.
SOME APPLICATIONS
David said, "he restoreth my soul".
So many sheep of the Lord try to run from the burdens.
Some try to hide from others and their sin.
My friend, your pain is not because other people know, that's not your problem
The pain that you have is because you know, and the good shepherd knows what is wrong .
Remember Peter and the burden of denial he carried with him. Luke 22:54-62
He swore and said I know not the man. Luke22:57
Tears came to his eyes. Luke 22:62
What caused the tears from his eyes? Was it an assembly?
was it because others saw and knew? No, the reason was that he knew
saw ther betrayal.
Jesus turn and look right at him. Luke 22:61
Jesus looked into the very depths of his soul, and then Peter went out and wept bitterly.
Your pain is found in the fact that you know, and the good shepherd knows your sins.
Peter had his problems. But like the other sheep, he found that the Lord will restore the soul.
Jesus forgave and allowed Peter to feel the blessed reconciliation.
Lovest thou me more than these, Peter was asked, John 21:15.
Peter was asked three times if he loved the Lord. John 21:15-18
Though cast down, Peter would not be left behind to the predators, or to die of exposure.
Remember the closeness that you once had. Don't run from people,
don't run from the good shepherd.
We make a tragic mistake when we try to keep sin secret.
I won't tell anyone my sins because it affects only me, we rationalize.
We must get that sin out of our life, and make our relationship with God right.
I John 1:9 " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrightousness".
People depend on religion like Israel leaning on Egypt. Also described as a man leaning on a bruised reed. Or like leaning on a sharpened reed that pierces the hand. II Kings 18:21
Religion gathers people together sometimes for show and pretention.
Among celebrities a young actor was especially astute in reading.
The actor read the Psalm 23 flawlessly and eloquently
with every proper inflection.
An elderly man, a common man, walked up to the microphone.
This man was a sincere Christian he was also asked
to come and recite the passage.
With a broken voice, but with great feeling he recited the Psalm.
When he was finished there was not a sound
to be heard in the room.
The young actor stood up and said, ladies and gentlemen, I know the shepherd Psalm, but this man knows the shepherd.
We must know the shepherd.
The lord Jesus loves you no matter what your condition. God loves you more than you even know.
He wants to restore your soul even today.
CONCLUSION
Are you following the good Shepherd
today. The classes of people on the judgement day will be sheep or
goats.
Hve you obeyed the gospel of Christ.
Believe Jesus to be God's son, John 8:24
Repent or perish, Luke 13:3-5
Confess Christ with the mouth, Romans 10:10
Be immersed, baptized, to be saved, I Peter 3:21
Live faithful unto death, Revelation 2:10