He Restores My Soul
He Restores My Soul
We all probably can recite Psalm 23 by heart. It is a short yet powerful window into the Heart of God. I imagine David sitting on a high ravine near Jerusalem. Possibly David had just returned from a battle as he looked over the landscape scattered with sheep. The sun just beginning to peek over the horizon. David begins to reflect. It brings him back into his childhood when he would have been the shepherd watching over his flock; little ones bouncing around playing. This is the way I envision Psalm 23.
David weary from the battles and the pains of life ponders the LORD. He knows the LORD, His goodness, His care. David is raw inside, battle weary. With tears streaming down his cheeks He reflect with the LORD. He remembers his youth. His care for his sheep comes back into view. He remembers rescuing the lamb from the bear and then when the lion attacked… He pauses and reflects. He remembers how he continuously led his sheep to the best meadows; the greenest pastures. He begins to feel his heart beat more rapidly. He considers the sheep. David feels the Presence of the LORD as the sunrise warms the landscape and his countenance… maybe it was the LORD who initiated this whole morning interacting with his thoughts? David recognized Him. This was the LORD.In the midst of David’s reflection he breathes out and whispers, “The LORD, He is my shepherd.” He looks over the hills and valleys at the lush green grass; the sheep feeding under the care of their shepherd, “I shall never want.” David knows how shepherds think. He reflects again on how he loved his sheep and how much more the LORD loved him. Now in the midst and impact of his encounter with the LORD, David begins to sing. As he sings his heart burns as he feels the Presence of the LORD, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” David’s words begin to quiver, tears pouring, David bends over and then stands gazing towards the sunrise. He lifts his head to the LORD, his arms raised high… “He restores my soul.”
David remembers how the LORD saved him from his enemies. How He led him when he was pursued by Saul. How He cared for him… and the cave. Oh the cave… As he reflects upon Adullam; a painful joy saturates his thoughts. The pain of Saul—a man, no more than a man—David’s king and the LORD’s anointed. David had loved King Saul and his son, Jonathan. Saul’s anger, rather his jealousy, had made the king mad. Saul’s spears didn’t pierce David’s flesh, but they did penetrate his heart. As David reflects he again begins to sing. This time about a valley of shadows looming with death. And the many times he avoided death, no… reconsidering his thoughts… the many times the LORD protected him from death and evil. Now David considers how it played a part in who he had become. Those arrows—every one of them—though in the hand of Saul, were really only in the hand of God. God guided each of them away from David. And God used them to chisel and forge David’s character. Ultimately they forced him to Adullam. David’s training continued in Adullam—a place where God had prepared him a table. A place prepared by God for a time. David lacked nothing. In fact, many of his leaders were brought to him while in Adullam. David found himself quite satisfied as he continued to muse with the LORD that morning.
As we read though the many stories of David, his victories and defeats, we see God in the story-line. Sometimes overtly, other times a bit more hidden. But, nonetheless, God is always present working the plan for His beloved David.
David’s stories are magnificent. We love to read them. And as we do we find ourselves… and God. We find ourselves battle-weary. We find ourselves in our own caves, our own family issues, our own friends… and enemies. Sometimes we are also dodging spears launched at us from a hand who was at one time our friend.
We love to find God. Moreover, God loves to reveal Himself in the story-line of our life.
Sure most of us don’t take up arms in combat as David did. But our warfare and battles are real nonetheless. And they can take a toll on our souls. Let Him restore—let Him repair your soul. Let Him prepare your table in the presence of your enemies where your cup overflows.
Find solace with the LORD—your Shepherd. Then pick up your sword to fight another day.
