He restoreth my soul

Introduction:

King David, as we know, is the author, but he is not writing this as a king; nor as a military commander, and not as a shepherd, but as a sheep-ram. We have also discovered his claim: Jesus Christ is my very own shepherd, because He is my shepherd I shall not lack, and He provides contentment for our life. My soul is satisfied. He has been praising God. But think for a minute, if everything is so hunky-dory, why do we need restoring? Since this Psalm is relating humans to sheep, why do sheep and humans need restoration? Sheep need restoring because in Old English they are cast down.

Prior to David becoming King, he had tasted frustration while on the run from Saul; he had tasted hopelessness after he became King when his son Absolom rebelled; and he had tasted the agony of defeat because of his tritest with Bathsheba. David had experienced bitterness, hopelessness, and disappointment over falling into sin.

In Ps, 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God. David compares himself to sheep, that is being cast down.

What does cast down mean? It refers to a sheep that has somehow rolled over on it’s back & cannot get up by themselves. One cause is their center of gravity is different; when they roll over the center shifts, and they are unable to get up. In my crazy imagine nation, I see a sheep laying on it’s back with its feet straight up in the air, calling for help. Like humans, if their feet are up in the air for any length of time, the blood flow is depleted, causing numbness; the depleted blood flow in the legs causes the pooling of blood in both the heart & lungs. (Like CHF). One more problem of a cast sheep; it is unable to ruminate -chew the cud.( I knew cows did this, but this was news to me!) Since they are unable to ruminate, digestive gasses build up in their digestive system, and if it is a hit day, life expectancy is as little as 2 hours…cold days maybe 2 days.

The sheep have one of two options: 1) Lie there and do nothing, or 2) go into full panic mode, bleats, wails, stuggles, doing whatever they can to draw attention to themselves. What’s our reaction to being cast down?

Being Cast down-the causes

The soft spot. Sheep like to find the most comfortable spot to lay down, they look for a soft area to lay do in, they prefer the soft, rounded hollows in the ground in which to lie down…this often becomes a hazard because it is easy to roll over resulting in their being cast. Sometimes we are like that sheep, we want to get comfortable. That is we look for the easy place to serve, I have learned that when you are comfortable or sure of your self, WATCHOUT!

1 Corinthians 10:12 (KJV 1900) Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

Stubbornness, we may also refer to this as unwillingness or self-indulgence. Sheep, being the dumb animals they are, become so concentrated on their grazing or rest, never paying attention to their surroundings leads them into a situation of being cast. Same is true for churches-their inability to change; we’ve always done it this way, it it was good enough for mommy and daddy is good enough to day. Why if we changed granddaddy would roll over in his grave. And the same is true for Christians: unwilling to lead a disciplined live: Bible study, prayer, mediation, and serving.

Too much wool. When sheep have an excessive amount of wool it can become matted with mud, manure,, becomes infected with ticks & fleas, and it increases the weight of sheep allowing its center of gravity to shift, allowing the animal to cast easier. They only remedy for this aliment, is shearing the sheep. Wool in the Bible depicts the old self-life in a Christian. It is the outward expression of an inner attitude, the assertion of my own desires and hopes and aspirations. It is the area of our life in which and through which we are in constant contact with the world around us. Here we become weighted down with the enticements of the old nature. LIKE:

COVETING: What are some of the items people covet? Possessions, power, prestige? But already learned sine The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack.

CIRCUMSTANCES: Things become our guide and not the Holy Sprit. Work, finances, our children, marriage they all become not only influence-rs but idols as well.

BUSYNESS or just trying to get ahead. In 1973 average work hours =40.6; in 2017 it was 44 hours; last year with pandemic it was 37.4 hours. This is one thing we can be thankful for with the pandemic, it forced us to slow down & spend time with things that matter-like God & family.

Just a side note: No priest was allowed to wear wool of any kind when they entered the Holy of Holies, the place God’s glory dwelt; why? Wool was a personal preference, it was about self indulgence, about pride; and God could not allow that in His presence.

TOO FAT: When sheep and Richard get too fat, their center of gravity is easily shifted, making them easier to roll over. Also their weight makes it more difficult to get up. The cure for overweight sheep, like humans, is to put them in a strict diet. But we aren’t talking about physical weight, but spiritual attitude. Jesus speaks of this in:

Revelation 3:17 (KJV 1900) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

MATERIAL SUCCESS DOES NOT = SPIRITUAL HEALTH.

Revelation 3:18

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

AFFLUENCE DOES NOT=GODLINESS

John wrote to Gaius, encouraging him because another man Diotrephes loved his role in the church. He had influence & affluence, but he lacked Godliness.

3 John 9–11 (KJV 1900)

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. 10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Spiritual diet includes chastening:

Rev. 3:19-22

19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

I believe our diet or chastening is to bring us to a place of restoration.

Psalm 56:13 (KJV 1900)

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, That I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Cast Down-The restoration: How did the shepherd treat a cast down sheep? First, the shepherd met them were they were; then rights the sheep, all the time using encouraging words. Sometimes the shepherd would straddle the sheep until they regained their balance. Sometimes the shepherd had to massage the legs to restore blood flow; a complete picture of love and care.

In John 21, we have a picture of Jesus as the loving Shepherd. If you remember, Peter denied Jesus 3 times from the Garden to the Cross. Now post resurrection, Jesus goes to Peter, asked him 3x do you love me; feed my sheep. To me He is saying better things are yet to come…don’t give up…I’m here to help…focus on Me.

Just remember the next time you feel cast down, the Shepherd is straddling you.

Next week: He guides me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.