Restore My Soul

Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

The word “restoreth” in the Hebrew here, means to turn back, not necessarily to the starting point, but it could mean to go all the way back to the starting point.

If we could turn back to before the fall we could truly be free to rest. Adam walked with God and worked from a place of rest. It was only after sin entered in that fear, anxiety, shame, etc. entered into the soul of man.  Those things keep our hearts from true rest in God. We may not be able to go back to before the fall of mankind, but in Jesus Christ our soul can be restored to the point of being free from those things that keep us from rest. 

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

TIGHTROPE

Sometimes in our Christian walk we may feel like we are walking a tightrope and each step feels precarious.  We may feel like any misstep could lead to a fall that will mean our death.  It can be stressful, even fearful. Sometimes that fear will keep us from taking the next step.  But we can be assured that our loving Father is with us every step of the way.  “The steps of the good man are ordered by the Lord” and should we fall God is the safety net underneath to catch us and put us back on the path.  As we walk, the Word of God is the balancing rod in our hands.  It is also a “lamp to our feet and light unto our path” giving light for the next step. 

Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴ Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Proverbs 24:16  ESV for the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

 
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

What Great Restraint!

Luke 22:63-65 And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. ⁶⁴ And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? ⁶⁵ And many other things blasphemously spake they against him.

They did not know they were beating and mocking the very one who had created them. They did not know that within a few short hours this man would hang on the cross taking their sin upon Him.  This man would be bearing on that cross the very sin they were committing against Him at that moment, in addition to every sin they had committed and every sin they ever would commit.

Jesus received this beating and mockery knowing full well that He had created them and the very earth on which they stood.  Jesus could have called legions of angels to come to His rescue.  He could have called legions of angels to annihilate these men. (In the Old Testament many enemies were wiped out by angels of God.)  But Jesus knew this was part of what He came to earth for. Jesus had come to partake of such suffering and go to the cross on the behalf of mankind, on behalf of the men that were administering this cruelty to Him.

Jesus knew what He was about to do.  Jesus knew He was about to take their sin upon Himself and yet He stood there and said not a word.  Out of love for those men and all mankind Jesus willingly received this.  Out of love for you and me Jesus submitted Himself to such suffering. What great love!!  What great restraint!!