The Lord is my Shepherd (9)

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.”

Oh to be refreshed!  To be restored!  The Good Shepherd feeds us, nourishes us, puts us in a wonderful safe place and, therefore, “restores our soul”.  Do you need God to restore your soul today?  The word that David uses here is one that means to “go back to the way things should be…to start fresh”.  It is to wash away the mistakes and to get back on the right path.  It is a Hebrew word that refers to repentance.  It is a recognition of ones error and turning around and getting it right.

The Scriptures are clear that we, as God’s sheep have wandered off the path, “we all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).  We can return but not without bringing bags of failure with us.  In fact, if we are honest, coming into the presence of God in our sinful condition is quite daunting.  My shortcomings are insurmountable!  To stand before a Holy God is to be condemned not to be restored.

But wait…The Good Shepherd leads you to quiet water and restores your soul.  He, Himself has made this possible through the sacrifice on the cross!

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”        (Romans 8:1)

David described this restoration even clearer in another Psalm:

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.  When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.  For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity…and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” (Psalm 32:1-5)

Thanks be to God who makes it possible for us to be restored.  Today, come into to presence of God and allow Him to forgive you, cleanse you and restore you to what you were created to be.  Thank Him for the great sacrifice of the cross that makes this possible!