Psalm 23:3a
Phillip Keller, a shepherd and author of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, says, "It is no accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of profound importance. Yet despite these adverse characteristics, Christ chooses us, buys us, calls us by name, makes us His own and delights in caring for us."
What is the “soul” and why would it
need to be restored? The soul is a part of the “human trinity” of my body, soul,
and spirit. 1 Thess. 5:23 says that all three need to be sanctified and
preserved completely. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you
completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Good Shepherd does not restore
the souls of those who do not belong to Him. He only returns what was once at a
better place, close to the Shepherd’s heart. A person who is not saved cannot
have a restoration of soul, unless he first is saved.
I spoke with a brother in Christ today who was clearly and admittedly agitated and irritated. What's worse, I was the cause for his irritation. What was even worse than that, I saw myself and my easily troubled and unrestored emotions of irritations in him. In fact, if truth be told, the worst of all is, I have acted far worse than he did and I told him so. My soul, even though saved, needs to be restored from time to time. But God cannot restore something that has never been stored in the first place.
I spoke with a brother in Christ today who was clearly and admittedly agitated and irritated. What's worse, I was the cause for his irritation. What was even worse than that, I saw myself and my easily troubled and unrestored emotions of irritations in him. In fact, if truth be told, the worst of all is, I have acted far worse than he did and I told him so. My soul, even though saved, needs to be restored from time to time. But God cannot restore something that has never been stored in the first place.
My soul can be redeemed or reclaimed
by God from danger, either physical or spiritual harm (see Ps. 49:15, 34:22, 55:18,
69:18, Ps 71:23). It can be instructed (Ps. 13:2, 19:7, 139:14) and is the seat
of my appetites, desires, emotions, and personality. Therefore my soul can be “cast
down” (Ps. 42:5-6, 11) or sad (Ps. 35:12) or happy (see Ps 35:9, 86:4) or vain
(Ps 24:4, Ps 34:2) or patient (Ps 33:20).
A shepherd counts and looks for his
sheep not only because they wander off, but because they can often become physically
cast down and unable to get back up. Without the help of a shepherd, they might
never upright themselves and die within hours.
Shepherds are not the only ones who
look for cast down sheep. Predators do as well. Jesus said to “beware of false
prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening
wolves.” Paul also spoke of wolves
entering into the church. Acts 20:29 “For I know this, that after my departing
shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”
A restored soul will journey beside restful waters on a righteous way and that is why the soul’s restoration is placed between two
commands to follow the leading shepherd. Let God and God alone lead your mind, will, and emotions.
Heavenly Father,
Thank You Lord for saving my soul,
Thank You Lord for making me whole
Thank You Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free
Amen.*
All this month we are looking at the most beloved psalm and the most quoted chapter in all of the Bible, the 23rd Psalm. If you would like to subscribe daily, put your email in the upper right box.
*Words by Bill and Gloria Gaither
