My daily Bible reading to study yesterday was, in part, Psalm 23. I was inspired to focus on verse 3 of that Psalm for this weekend's post. Many of you may have the entire Psalm 23 memorized, and it is an excellent one to know by heart, as I myself have memorized it. Sometimes when I am extremely tired or just for a loss as to what to pray, I quote the entire Psalm 23 out loud to the Lord. It is soothing and calming to do so.
"He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." - Psalm 23:3
The soul can have weaknesses and weariness, and sometimes loss of trust in God. It can sometimes lose sight of the promises of God found in His Holy Word. Take it all to the good Lord in prayer, and the Great Physician will restore you to a healthy state of mind and of soul.
One commentator believes this is the only meaning of "He restoreth my soul"..... that it does not refer to any sin. But actually, any doubt of God is a sin in itself.
Other commentators say that this restoration of the soul refers to the pardoning of sins. We all are aware that although, if we are born again, we are still prone to sin occasionally. The big difference in when believers sin, is that it is not on purpose and deliberately and willfully done. It shouldn't be, if you are a true believer in Jesus.
If one has sinned, or become a backslider, he can come back to the
Lord by way of humility and prayer and repentance and to turn from any evil. You must come to the Lord in sorrow for the wrong and with whole-hearted remorse. If you are a sheep that has left the fold and become separated from the flock, the Good Shepherd will welcome you back with open arms of love and pardon.
When one is oppressed, God can refresh the soul with His Word, the Bible, and by His Holy Spirit, Who is the Comforter. Faith is the great restorer of life to any oppressed Christian.
Psalm 23:3 ........."He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.."
The custom of the Eastern shepherds was to go before the sheep, thereby leading them. So God guides us. We enter the paths of righteousness not because we are forced or driven into them, "but by the attraction of our Lord's loving presence, and the persuasive power of His holy will."
"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." - Jeremiah 10:23
From the above verse, we can see that even converted persons need a God to lead them. We can also see this when David prayed:
"Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness." - Psalm 143:10
Keep on the good paths, the narrow and straight paths, the paths that the good Lord leads you to follow, and you will not go wrong. If you are in doubt, pray to God to guide you and He will tenderly lead you on the path that is righteous, one that leads to heaven in the future.
Psalm 23:3 ".....For His name's sake."
The above makes you think of God's sovereignty. He not only guides us in paths of righteousness because of His love and mercy and grace, but because He is concerned with His reputation and His purposes and wants them to be maintained by His people in order that He might be glorified.
"....So didst Thou lead thy people, to make Thyself a glorious name." - Isaiah 63:14b
Indeed, we all ought to do everything for God's glory. He is the Sovereign of the universe; He is our Creator and breath of life.
We believers have so much to be grateful for. The good Lord watches over us, provides for us, loves us, and tenderly guides and corrects us. We owe Him reverence and respect and total surrender to His will; and we owe Him our grateful love in return.
Following is a 26 minute audio sermon by Charles Spurgeon on beautiful Psalm 23:
In this commentary, Spurgeon says: "It is to the honor of our Great Shepherd that we should be a holy people, walking in the narrow way of righteousness." Another way to say it is, we should be living as godly a life as possible, endeavoring to please the good Lord in all we do, say, think, and believe.
"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord;" - Hebrews 12:14
How do we become holy and live a godly life? You need to be born again (John 3:3), which means you repent of any sin and put your full trust and belief in Jesus as the Savior, whose shed blood at Calvary can wash away your sins. You must forsake your sinful life and live for the Lord and obey Him and love Him with your whole heart and soul and mind. Pray for forgiveness and for Him to wipe the slate clean; refreshing and cleansing you with His love and forgiveness.
Romans 10: 9,10,13 tells us: (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." - Jesus speaking at Matthew 7:13-14
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - John 14:6
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." - John 3:3
Have a blessed and Christ centered weekend...... and life !
