Psalms 23 He restores my soul

He Restores my Soul

Recap:

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want

The Lord. Jehovah. The Almighty creator, is my shepherd.

Because of his care I will not lack my needs nor shall my soul desire more than what the good shepherd provides.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; and leads me beside still waters.

The food that nourishes and the water that satisfies

It is clean and safe to drink

The land not barren but has the choicest feed

His presence helps me to rest.

Read psalms 23

PRAY.

We come tonight to He restores my soul

He restores my soul

Has anyone ever been discouraged. Grown faint in their walk with God?

When does this often happen in our walks with God?

Restores: To be returned, to be restored, to be brought back. As we will see Keller would suggest the idea of putting us back on our feet.

So it seems to give this idea about our soul that affects the rest of our person that can come to a point that needs to be restored to its better or original state.

The person that needs it is me at times and the only one that is apt and able to do this restoring is the good shepherd.

He is the one that is able to know the proper and best state for the soul to operate since he created it. He knows when we are disquieted, when we are cast down, when we are wandering beyond the provision of our shepherd

One would think that it would be impossible to need restoration under the good care of our shepherd but at times it is necessary.

You could be the leaders of the greatest mission organization and still need God to restore you. We all come to a point in our lives where we need this work done by our good shepherd.

When you read your bible you cant help but notice the men and woman that at times needed this gracious work of God in their lives. And many more that once.

David said return me to the joy of my salvation

To Elijah it came in a still small voice

To Samson it came in a restoration of strength

Peter after his denial

Moses as he led the people

Jeremiah as he spoke the Word of God

Esther as she is uprooted from her home and brought into the pagans kings palace to become queen.

Hannah when she was barren

This came when they remember who God was and who they were in light of him.

If it could happen to these great men and woman in the bible we would be foolish to think that it could not happen to us.

There are many ways in which we may find ourselves cast down.

It could be because of sin

Maybe the circumstances around us at that time

Or could be because we have become comfortable in our walk

This many times affects the relationships we are involved in as well

psalms 42:11, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

Becoming cast down

This is an old English shepherds term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself.

A cast sheep is a very pathetic sight. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success. Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration.

This was a ever present danger for sheep that shepherd had to be diligent in watching for otherwise his loss could be great.

If the owner does not arrive on the scene with a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful shepherd to look over his flock.

There is a parallel to this in shepherding and caring for the sheep.

For the shepherd would need to be diligent in looking across the field to make sure that he didn’t have any cast sheep. That all were on their feet. If there was one or two sheep missing immediately the first thought would be one of my sheep are cast somewhere I must go in search of it.

We must realize that in our lives as ones that strive to be in the presence of our shepherd and strive to serve him, we can become cast down. It is when we often become most sure of ourselves is when we become laxed and become in danger.

1 Corinthian 10:12, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

Common problem we can find ourselves succumb to is when we think it wont happen to us.

Go to the homeless shelter, the jail, they never thought that is where they would be.

Often when we look for that comfy spot we can become cast. There is always great danger when we look for that cozy corner, easy place, the comfortable position where there is no hardships no need for endurance, no demand upon self-discipline.

This is where our church was before God called us here.

When a sheep’s wool is to thick it can become cast as it gets caught with many contaminants that would make it more difficult to regain its feet.

This is the sign of the old-self, the flesh in the Christian walk that often burdens us down.

You cannot carry bitterness expect to walk in the joy of Christ.

You cannot choose to commit sins and expect Gods hand of blessing.

You cannot treasure the things of this world and grow deeper in your walk with God.

These things do not go hand in hand but rather are contrary one to the other.

You cannot have the nourishment of the good grass when you desire to wander beyond the fence.

Thankfully our loving shepherd even seeks to restore us when wander beyond the fence or provision of the shepherd.

, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.”

I picture David when he went beyond the fence of God to seek to satisfy.

,When we sin its not just once and done but has its consequences. You reap what you sow.

God went after his wandering sheep with loving discipline to restore his soul.

I think of William when on the deck to my grandmas house and wanted to go to the steps. The places I warned of danger and told to not go near he still desired that place instead of all the places he was free to go on the deck. He narrowed in on the one place he couldn’t go rather than enjoying all the places he could go.

Prevention of becoming cast:

psalms 42:11, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?

And why are you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

For I shall yet praise Him,

The help of my countenance and my God.

The answer is surrounded in our understanding of God and our experience of his gracious care.

Hope in God. This requires first understanding Him and experiencing his truths lived out in your life. If you know what the Bible says yet you don’t live it out you will become cast very quickly and rightly so.

Remember Him

When we forget who he is we often become discouraged with our circumstances

Embrace Truth

Seek Him

, “IF then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”When we refuse to seek that which is above we often are wandering beyond the fence of God.

Trust Him

:105Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path

107 revive me, o lord, according to your word

Your word i have hidden in my hearty that i may not sin against you.

One man prayed let me see my how great my sin is.