Psalm 23:3 He Restores my Soul

The Lord is my shepherd! He has provided for all of my physical needs. Now David moves even further and praises God for providing for my spiritual needs. “He restores my soul.”

Please read Psalm 23, and focus on verse 3.

There are three beautiful clauses that compose this verse; each one being worthy of its own study. Yet, they form such a wonderful harmony, that we should take them all together.

To begin: “He restores my soul.” Before we acknowledge that God restores our soul, we must first confess that our soul needs restoration. Just as an old car or house does not need restoration unless it is not functioning properly and up to code, so an old soul does not need restoration unless it too is not functioning up to code. The subtle declaration here is, “I am broken and in need of being restored!”

Once I confess my sin, I can then praise God, for He restores my soul! When my soul is sorrowful, He revives it. When my soul is sinful, He sanctifies it. When my soul is weak, He strengthens it. God restores my soul!

How does God restore my soul? “He leads me in paths of righteousness.” Notice the plural here: God does not lead me in the path of righteousness—the way of the Lord, but in paths of righteousness. The indication is that God leads me in all of His ways. I cannot read His Word and select which commandments I wish to obey and which I wish to disobey. The Lord is my Shepherd; I will follow Him wherever He leads—in all of His paths.

As God leads me in His paths of righteousness, my soul begins the process of sanctification and restoration. I begin doing those things for which I was created. I begin walking in the way which was foreordained for me before the creation of the world. And then I continue in the paths of righteousness; I walk ever more in the ways that God has designed for me to walk. God leads me in such a way that I may reach my full spiritual potential.

Why does God do this great work in me? “For His name’s sake.” I must never fall into the trap of believing that my salvation is all about me. God did not save me because I am so very special and worthy of salvation; God saved me so that He might receive the glory for taking someone as wretched as I am and transforming me into a saint!

Jesus has washed the church in His cleansing blood so that He might present His bride to Himself spotless, without stain. This is not for the glory of the bride, but for the glory of the bridegroom: so that He might show of the great power of His cleansing blood! Jesus has saved me for His glory—for His name’s sake.

And I thank God that He did! May He use me ever more for His glory! There is no place I’d rather be than in His presence as He restores my soul.