A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 [Part 5: He Restores My Soul]

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Today, I am continuing my series on the timely and encouraging book, A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller.  As both a lay pastor and a shepherd, Keller had personal experience and keen insights from both a Christian perspective as a pastor as well as shepherding knowledge about shepherding methods similar to those in Biblical times. This is a thoroughly interesting and comforting read, especially in these uncertain times. For previous posts in this series, click HERE.

He Restores My Soul

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God..." 

(Psalm 42:1)

Even faithful Christians who cling to their Good Shepherd need to be refreshed and restored. The Christian life is not one of easy and plenty, which I am sure anyone can attest to. Rather, it is one of hardships, temptations, trials, and heartbreaking circumstances, just like anyone else on this earth. The difference, however, is that as Christians, we can cling to God in the hardship. He is our faithful, capable, compassionate, alert Good Shepherd, who is near is and restores us. 

The Psalmist uses the term "downcast" in the above Psalm. This relates to the old English shepherding term "cast down", describing sheep who have fallen down on their backs. Similar to a top-heavy turtle, sheep simply cannot get back up by themselves when they tumble and flip. It is a dire emergency when sheep are in this precarious position that can lead to death. This makes it essential that a shepherd is vigilant and always counting and observing his flock. If a sheep is cast down and alone, it is an easy prey for vultures, coyotes,  cougars, and other predators. Furthermore, death is a mere hours away in a cast down sheep because of the building up of gases in the stomach, expanding and cutting off circulation to the extremities of the body. This makes it impossible for these helpless sheep to use their feet to flip over and save themselves. Their only hope is their shepherd rolling them back to their feet, rubbing their extremities to aid in restoring circulation.

Our difficult circumstances, such as this current pandemic and all the economic and social consequences, can easily lead us to feeling like we have fallen and cannot get back up on our own. The despair of depression and anxiety also feel this way. Chronic illness, unemployment, broken relationships, loneliness, failed projects or plans.  Hopeless, helpless, immobilized. Possibly even questioning whether you are utterly alone in your trouble and if anyone will ever come to your aid. 

But there IS hope when we have fallen, because our Good Shepherd is patient, compassionate, forgiving, vigilant, watchful, protective, and near to the brokenhearted. In tenderness He seeks us when we are in trouble and restores us back to the safety of his flock. 

"You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of my life".  (Psalm 56:13)

Whether a Christian is "cast down" because of their own pride, unwise decisions, or sinful habits, or whether it happens without any apparent fault of their own, the Good Shepherd comes to our rescue when we recognize our need and call on Him. 

"We may rest assured that He will never expect us or ask us to face more than we can stand (1 Corinthians 10:13). But what He does expose us to will strengthen and fortify our faith and confidence in His control. If He is the Good Shepherd, we can rest assured that He knows what He is doing. This in and of itself should be sufficient to continually refreshened restore my soul. I know of nothing which so quiets and enlivens my own spiritual life as the knowledge that God knows what He is doing with me!" (p. 81).

Application:
1. When was the last time you felt restored by the Good Shepherd? What was going on in your life during that season?

2.  Are there other promises in the Bible or attributes of God that can help bolster your faith that He restores your soul when you are down cast?

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Below is a playlist with songs about Psalm 23 to help in meditating on these truths.