“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (v. 3).

Sheep under the care of the Good Shepherd enjoy great blessings. Their Master delights in them; He spares no effort to provide them with the finest pastures and clean water, to shelter them from storms, to protect them from ruthless enemies and the diseases and parasites to which sheep are so susceptible.

“He restoreth my soul”

“He restoreth my soul” literally means, “He causes my life to return,” or “He quickens me.” As the sheep of His pastures, God’s people should be happy and contented. Then why this seemingly contrary statement? Why the need for restoration? Surely, one who is in the care of the Good Shepherd could never become so distressed as to need restoration. Does not the Lord preserve and keep us, both body and soul? How do we explain this paradox?

Life’s hardships can take a toll on any one of us. Illnesses, losses, temptations, difficult relationships can weaken and weary a Christian. Added to these trials is the daily struggle to keep our depraved nature in check. The Psalmist himself had his own personal struggles. David knew how it felt to be cast down and dejected. He had tasted the bitterness of grave sin in his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah. In deep anguish of soul, he cried out, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God …” (Ps. 42: 11). O, where art Thou, the Great Shepherd of the sheep!

There is a parallel in the care of sheep. Keller writes, “Only those intimately acquainted with sheep and their habits understand the significance of a “cast” sheep or “cast down” sheep. This is an old English shepherd’s term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself. A “cast” sheep is a very pathetic sight. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success. Sometimes, it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration. If the owner does not arrive on the scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful sheepman to look over his flock … It is not only the shepherd who keeps a sharp eye for cast sheep, but also the predators. Buzzards, vultures, dogs, coyotes and cougars all know that a cast sheep is easy prey and death is not far off.”

Sharing from his experiences, Keller notes that even the healthiest sheep can become cast and be a casualty. This happens when a fat or heavy sheep, resting comfortably in some hollow in the ground, rolls on its side to stretch or relax. Suddenly the centre of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. Struggling in this helpless position only makes things worse; gases build up in the rumen, retarding or cutting off blood circulation to the limbs. A cast sheep can survive for several days in cool weather but if the weather is humid, it can die within a few hours. Here is a warning for us. All of us are susceptible to sin and temptation. Let us take heed lest we fall (I Cor. 10: 12).

Our Lord, in the parable of the lost sheep, depicts for us, the heart-warming account of the shepherd’s deep concern for his one lost sheep. Knowing that every minute is critical, he left the ninety nine and spent the night looking for the missing one, and when he “hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost” (Lk. 15: 5-6). In the same way, our compassionate Lord tenderly picks up and restores the “cast” sheep. “No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep, so apt is it to go astray, and then so unapt to find the way back” – Matthew Henry. The best saints are conscious of their proneness to go astray like lost sheep (Ps 119:176); they miss their way, and turn aside into by-paths. But when God shows them their error, and turns them back to Him, He restores their soul.

Our Lord’s tender and loving restoration of erring Peter after his tragic fall is a classic picture of Christ coming to restore one of His own. When, after one sin, David’s heart smote him, and, after another, Nathan was sent to tell him, “Thou art the man,” the Lord graciously restored him. Though God may suffer his people to fall into sin, he will not suffer them to lie still in it. He is the Lord our God that heals us (Ex 15: 26), and keeps us from fainting (Isa. 40: 29-31). Is any among us weak, weary, perplexed, dejected? Let us draw nigh to the Lord Who will restore and strengthen us.

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”

David, the author of the Psalm, had learned from tough experience of shepherding his father’s flock, that sheep needed constant, meticulous care and guidance. Sheep are notorious creatures of habit. Left to themselves, they will follow the same trails and graze the same favoured spots, often gnawing the grass to the very ground until even the roots are damaged. Such destructive habits reduce formerly rich grasslands to ravaged wastelands. Moreover, these well-worn areas become quickly infested with all kinds of parasites; the flock can thus become infected with parasites. Both land and owner are ruined while the sheep become thin and sickly. To avoid these serious hazards, the diligent shepherd must take all necessary precautions, one of which is to constantly move the flock to fresh grasslands.

In the same way, Christ the Good Shepherd does not permit His sheep to wander in ways that would lead to their ruin. He leads them in the way of uprightness and truth. He guides them safely to their heavenly home for the glory of His name. It is to the honour of our great Shepherd that we should be a holy people, walking in the narrow path of righteousness. Let us follow our Lord as He leads us to do His will “for it is God Which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philp. 2: 13).
- Pastor