He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Psalms 23:3
This is a verse from what is undoubtedly the most well-known of all the Psalms. It is a psalm of David, a shepherd, a giant-slayer and a king! Most important of all, David was a man after God’s own heart. That was a journey that had its share of twists and turns and ups and downs. A journey not unlike ours today (well, maybe except for the giant part and the part about being king).
One thing that is noteworthy throughout this psalm is the relationship between the sheep and their Shepherd. Each verse has the Lord’s part and the sheep’s part. With a perfect Shepherd like the Lord, you would not expect there to be any issues with the sheep acting like, well, sheep. Why not just enjoy the blessings of having such a wonderful Shepherd that cares for you and watches over you? But alas, sometimes sheep get themselves into situations that they cannot get out of on their own. That’s when the Shepherd comes to the rescue.
As we come to our verse, David has already acknowledged that he has no wants while he is under the care of the Lord. He is led by his heavenly Shepherd to still waters and to green pastures. Even with such a wonderful life, he wanders away (as sheep tend to do) and needs restoration. In other words, he has gotten off of the path the Lord has for him. Fortunately for David (and for all of God’s sheep) that is not the end of the story.
Jesus told a parable about a shepherd who had one hundred sheep and one of them wandered off. The shepherd didn’t just abandon that lost sheep and leave him to suffer the fate of sheep who have no shepherd. He went after that lost lamb and brought him back to the fold. But, if the sheep still has a wandering heart, he will end up in the same situation all over again. What’s needed is a change of heart — a restoration.
Whenever you find that you have wandered away from God’s green pastures, if you listen, you will hear what cannot be heard with your natural sense of hearing; it is the voice of the Shepherd calling your name. He is looking for you, not so that He can find where you are (He already knows that), but so that you can find your way back to where He is. The Shepherd wants to restore your soul and lead you once again. Even if you show up a little worse for wear, the Lord will anoint your head with oil and you will be ready to get back on track, on the right path.
The Lord will lead you down paths of righteousness. You are restored to righteousness! But, how is that possible since you are coming from a place of wandering that led you off of the path and away from those green pastures He had provided for you? It is possible because it is not your righteousness that restores and sustains and leads you but the righteousness of the Lord. Through Jesus Christ, you have everything you need to live a life that is pleasing to Him, but sometimes you may need some restoration; you may need the great Shepherd of the sheep to lead you back — back to the paths of righteousness!
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