Psalm 23 is one of the most recognizable passages of Scripture. Its words have been sung, prayed, and illustrated in countless ways, but if we’re not careful we can become so well acquainted with these verses that we forget the power these words hold. To recognize God as our Shepherd means we also have to accept that we are indeed like sheep: dirty, defenseless and helpless. Without a shepherd, the sheep are left to their own devices, which ultimately will lead them to starve, wander off, or be attacked. This week, let’s slow it down, remind ourselves that we are sheep in need of a loving Shepherd.

Paths of Restoration

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness or his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:3

I have a lot in common with sheep in that I’m really good at getting lost. I can’t use a map and without a GPS, I could make it home from very few places in a normal amount of time.

In this verse, “restore” can mean a lot of different things, all things that our souls desperately need from our Shepherd. It can mean that he refreshes our souls, and that He reenergizes us. It can also mean that he brings us back, specifically from our mistakes and wanderings.

We are so prone to wander, to seek out another way to find fulfillment, or to let someone else define us. And God is so gracious to show us our errors and to bring us back to His flock, every single time. Without His restoration, we would wander endlessly onto dangerous paths.

His restoration leads us to paths of righteousness, and these paths lead us to Him. He is gracious to bring us back, and He shows grace upon grace as He teaches us the best way to live.

The paths of righteousness He leads us in may not seem “safe” to the human eye because they may include financial risks, third world countries, or people we have decided are dangerous. In reality these are the most secure paths for us, because our Shepherd has already walked through them and prepared them for us.

As His Spirit enables us to continue choosing His ways of righteousness, we bring glory to His name. Walking in His paths demonstrates his mercy in bringing us back to the fold, His faithfulness to provide and His goodness to protect.

You need not fear the journey because walking with you is a Shepherd who promises to both restore and lead you!

Chelsey