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Psalm 23:3
Ps 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Think of what it means to be restored. I love restoring old furniture. I don’t necessarily bring the item I’m working on back to its original state, instead I refresh it by putting on a new coat of paint. Often, screws need to be tightened and seams need regluing in order to strengthen the piece. I normally sand the wood pieces before I paint, and sometimes I sand after, to give it a ‘loved’ look. Reupholstering can also give a fresh new look to some pieces but older items may need the cushioning replaced in order to really strengthen and fix the entire object.
When I looked up the Greek word restore is translated from, I was presented with quite a long list of definitions. Generally, its meaning is to retreat again, bring back home again, to call to mind, to continually deliver. The words recall, recover, refresh, relieve, rescue, retrieve and to cause to return are included in the long list of expressions defining the word ‘restore’.
The above seemed a lot to decipher, so I looked at the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to try to get some additional insight. Here are a few verses using the same Greek word <shuwb> or restore.
Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary says “to restore the soul is to revive or quicken it.
Ps 80:3 O God, restore us, and cause Thy face to shine [upon us], and we will be saved.
There are numerous uses of this same word throughout the Bible, many in the book of Genesis. The majority of uses for this word have the same thought – return(ed), returned continually, brought back, brought again, certainly return, restore(d), come again, bring again, to deliver, and draw back.
Psalm 23:3 says He restores my soul. God comforts His children. God refreshes His children. Not necessarily by changes that occur outside, but by those that come from within.
Consider. How long does an outward change last if only superficial? In other words, if I don’t take the time to fix the integrity of the furniture I restore, it will still be weak even though the outside may look new. God restores our soul, the very center of who we are. He refreshes us from the inside. Initially, He saved my soul from the grip of sin so that I would have eternal life. Continually, He brings me back from wandering by His guidance and protection. When I am weak, God gives me refreshment in His truths and strengthens me.
I love how John Wesley’s Notes on the Old Testament explains the words, ‘He restores my soul’ – “He brings it back; from its errors and wandering. Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness.”
God not only has gifted us with eternal life, He also is here to direct us and guide us, to restore us, to bring us back when we go off in the wrong direction, to give us rest when we become weary. This is a beautiful picture of our Great Shepherd and His continual care for His children. “Just as a shepherd brings back his wandering sheep from those craggy, untrodden paths, wherein they would lose themselves; and leads them into plain and easy ways, wherein they find rest and safety.” Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary
“When the soul grows sorrowful He revives it; when it is sinful He sanctifies it; when it is weak He strengthens it. … Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Pray to Him then for the blessing – ‘Restore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!” Treasury of David
Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
God not only restores my soul, He leads me, He guides me, He puts me on a straight path, the right path.
Think of those times you’ve taken a wrong turn. About twenty years ago, my husband and I surprised my parents with a trip to Alaska. My Dad had always dreamed of going there. While we were walking through some ruins from the 1964 earthquake that registered a 9.2 on the Richter scale, my husband took a turn and we all followed. Soon, we found ourselves right in the middle of mosquitos nesting. This was as horrible as it sounds: the little critters were everywhere, our skin was covered and if you opened your mouth to say anything or scream, they entered your mouth. I remember having mosquito bites on my tongue, and in my ears along with every exposed skin surface. God doesn’t lead us on a path of calamity, he leads us on His path of righteousness.
Ever have those times where you don’t know which way to turn? The direction you should take doesn’t seem clear and there doesn’t seem to be a good answer or right choice. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Several of us have been there multiple times. Some may even be there right now. What do you do?
Always, always, always go back to the truths you know in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23:3 says God will guide us to His way, what is best. Place your trust completely in His truths given to us through His word. You can rest in the fact that God does what He says. His answers may not come as quickly as we would like which means we need to wait. His answers may also not be what we want, but they will be what we need. His answers are often not easy, but will cause us to trust Him every step we take. Remember the truths written for us just in this Psalm alone.
Ps 23:1-3 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Ps 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Ps 31:3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.
Pr 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,
“In the paths of righteousness; in straight, and plain, and safe paths, where the sheep is neither hurt, nor wearied, nor in danger of wandering. By his word he directs me to the right ways of truth, and holiness, and righteousness, and by his Spirit he inclines and enables me to choose them, and to continue to walk in them.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary
Ps 143:8-10 Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in Thee; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to Thee I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in Thee. 10 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God; let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Isa 42:16 "And I will lead the blind [literal or figurative] by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone."
I have been saved from sin, I am continually led by my Shepherd to all that is needed, and I am saved to live a life in sync with His will. Only God is able to guide me into His ways. There is no possible way I am able to seek out His truths and follow them on my own without the help of the Holy Spirit. But, being saved from sin I am saved to righteousness. This is my hope, what I know for certain. God is my guide and He never fails to restore His children and guide them – even when they get lost or stray off the path, even when the way seems unclear or difficult. A shepherd will carry the weakest sheep if needed until they are strong enough to walk on their own. Do you trust Jesus to shepherd you?
Consider. The promises of God are certain. The faithfulness of God is sure.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;
2Co 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.
1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
1Th 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
Ps 36:5 Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness [reaches] to the skies.
Why does God restore my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness?
For His name’s sake.
On account of who He is. His character. To display the glory of His grace towards those He loves. Because He is perfect and good.
We are likened to sheep. We easily lose our way and will perish without a Shepherd. It is not because of anything in us that we are able to live lives of righteousness. I am not worthy. But God is and it brings great glory to God’s name when He guides us in righteousness, protecting us from harm. This is a display of His power and faithfulness.
Ps 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.
Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
To God be the glory, great things He hath done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He has done.
Fanny Crosby, 1875
