Day 2 - Week 88 - Psalm 23:3 "He restoreth my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

Our Shepherd...what do we know of Him so far? 

• He fulfills all our needs
• He brings us to places of comfort
• He restores our souls

And now we are told that He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Up to this statement, our Shepherd's actions on our behalf have been easy to understand.  But what does this statement mean to you?

When I ponder on these words, it makes me so thankful for my Good Shepherd and His good leading.  My Shepherd will lead me in paths that are pleasing to Him...paths of good works, paths of showing love and compassion to others, paths of selflessness, paths of worship and praise to Him, paths of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  These are the paths where He leads me.  If I find myself on any path of opposite characteristics, I can be assured that I did not get there by His guidance, but by way of my leaving His leading.

And when I walk along paths of righteousness, He will receive all the glory, for I have no credit for being there...it has always been because of Him.  HE is the reason for any good in my life, for He has led me there. 

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

 

Day 1 - Week 88 - Psalm 23:3

Here we are - another week - Week 88 in fact!

Before going any further, we must review.  I'm afraid I haven't reviewed for a few weeks, so we probably really need it!

Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns
and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."
Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in You."
2 Chronicles 16:9 "The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him."
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

The Great Commission (4)
Matthew 28:18 "Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Matthew 28:19 "Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 28:20 "Teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1  "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."
Psalm 23:2  "He maketh me lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters."

Can you say the next verse?  It maybe my favorite verse of the chapter.

"He restoreth my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake."

I don't know about you, but I need to know that my Shepherd can restore my soul, for there have been times when I have need of soul restoration.  The Hebrew word used in our verse is "shuwb" and it means "to bring back, refresh, restore."  My Shepherd knows me, and knows my soul, and truly knows what my soul needs.  And when it needs restoring, He is the One, and the only One, that is able to do just that.

He brings me back, He refreshes my inner being and He restores my soul to the sense of peace that only His presence brings.  Apart from my Shepherd, I am lost and troubled.  But in His care, I am truly restored and absolutely at peace.

He restoreth my soul.

Day 3 - Week 87 - Psalms 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters."

From The Presbyterian Psalter:

My faithful Shepherd is the Lord, supplying all my needs; In pastures green He makes me rest, by quiet waters leads.

And quoting from William Evans:

It is generally recognized as being a very difficult thing to get God's people to thus lie down.  They will run, walk, fight, sing, teach, preach, work, in a word do almost anything and everything except seek seasons of quiet and periods of retirement for secret communion with God and quiet soul nurture...We do not like pauses...from the rush into the hush (to which) Jesus calls us.
 

It's true, isn't it?  I'm experiencing a time when God is forcing me to stop...to just stop...and seek Him.  There is nothing else that I can do right now except...stop.  And you know what, when we do stop and allow ourselves to be stilled, God always provides the place to do just that.   A place of provision and a place of peacefulness. 

I know my Shepherd will soon ask me to get up and get moving, but today I am trying to pay attention to His hushing and to hear His quiet voice of assurance.

 

Day 2 - Week 87 - Psalms 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters."

These are beautiful places --- green pastures, beside the still waters.  But what about when our lives are not in such pretty sites, when the grass isn't so green and the waters seem anything but still.  What then?

Then we hold on to these verses...we hold on to the fact that the Lord IS our Shepherd.  That He will bring us again to green pastures and still waters.  That He IS faithful and that He IS good.  Sheep sometimes have to go through rocky places to get to the place of rest...and as they go through those mountain passes, through the crags and tors, their Shepherd is guiding them, always protecting them and ever loving them. 

When we're not in green pastures, we look forward to them, knowing they will come again...and knowing that we have the greenest pastures, the stillest waters waiting for us in a place that He is preparing for us now, a place that is promised to be more than our little sheep-brains can begin to imagine!

However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"-- 1 Corinthians 2:9
 

Day 1 - Week 87 - Psalm 23:2 "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters."

"Sheep eat standing up.  We once had a small flock, and the only time I saw them eat lying down was when sick.  Sheep eat on all fours, then find a shady spot to lie down and chew their cud.  When the psalmist said, 'He lets me lie down in green pastures,' he meant, 'I'm well satisfied.  I've had plenty to eat.  My needs have been met.  Now I'm going to settle down in contentment.'

"What about the still waters?  Sheep are frightened by rushing streams, for they wear heavy wooden coats that can become waterlogged and result in drowning.  Our sheep wouldn't come near the water trough while I was filling it with the hose.  The sound and sight of the splashing bothered them.  But when the water was stilled, they'd come and drink all they wanted.

"If we're under the Shepherd's ownership and care, He'll see to it that every need in our lives is met in one way or another---our external needs, our internal needs, and our eternal needs."

                                   Robert J. Morgan, One Hundred Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart

Right on the heels of "I shall not want", stating that with God as our Shepherd we find ourselves without any unmet needs or desires, we are told that He makes us lie down in green pastures and leads us to still waters.  We are made to lie down, because our stomachs are full...we are content, and well satisfied, and the only natural thing for a sheep to do at that point is to lie down in the clover and rest.  Rest --- that is what the leadership of God brings to us --- He brings us to rest, because if we are truly in Him and trusting in His provision, we have no other option.  He is our rest.  Just as Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Along with great rest, our faithful Shepherd brings us to the still waters...nothing that will upset us, but peaceful, still waters that give us life.  He is the living water, and His Spirit brings His eternal spring into our souls to keep us hydrated eternally. 

John 7:37-39   "Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.'  By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive."

Green Pastures - Still Waters

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Contentment and Rest - His Spirit within Us

I'm a silly sheep, but I am so thankful for my Good, Good, Shepherd who provides everything for my complete well being. 

Day 3 - Week 86 - Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

I just finished reading the nativity account in Luke and was reminded once again that the first to hear of the Savior's birth were shepherds, watching their flocks by night.

It gave me comfort to remember that my Shepherd also watches His flock by night.  He stands guard in the darkness, in our darkness, and protects each of His sheep.  He cares for us so wonderfully and so gently.

I'm also reminded by this week's verse that with God as my Good Shepherd, I shall have no wants.  I am to remember that He provides for me in all His wisdom and with the exactly right provision that I need. 

Whenever I am fearful of tomorrow, I just need to remember Who it is that is caring for me.  He is my Shepherd, He is my Savior, and He has promised to care for me.

Day 2 - Week 86 - Psalms 23:1 "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

"Unlike many animals, sheep can't make it on their own.  They can't fight with their hoofs or teeth.  They can't track down food.  They can't run very easily, or dig holes, or climb trees to escape predators.  They can't kick or bit.  They need a shepherd to care for them, just as we do."
     Robert J. Morgan, 100 Bible Verses Everyone Should Know by Heart

I'm certainly a sheep!  I cannot make it on my own...I need a shepherd.  And I have one.  The Lord is my Shepherd.  And because He is, I have no wants.  He is my all.  He completes whatever I lack.  He fills every gap in me, and I can rest because He has promised to be with me. 

Lord, when I whine or complain, remind me that You are giving me everything I need...because of You, I lack nothing.  Thank You Lord Jesus for shepherding me and for coming to seek and rescue me when I have been the one that lost its way.