All About Restoration Psalm 23

Psalm 23

I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve heard this Psalm; quoted this Psalm; read this Psalm; heard it sung about; talked about; or expounded upon from the pulpit. Yet, I never get tired of it. Each time I find a freshness about it that somehow speaks to my need.

Today there were several portions of this Psalm that God used to help affirm His love and confirm my journey. “Oh how wonderful, oh how marvelous is my Savior’s love for me…”

“…he restores my soul”

Of course, that is what this journey is all about, restoration – a restoring of that relationship which I chose to push away. A coming back to the Father after running everywhere, but nowhere. God is in the restoration business. That is what he does and His customer service policies are unequaled. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your present life, He will gladly exchange it for one where….

“He leads me in right paths for His names’ sake”

“He”, God; “leads”, provides direction through His WORD & Word; “me”, I am the one being lead. Why is it that I always want to flip that “He” and “me” around? It’s never “here God, I’m going this way would you like to come?”

I have this saying written in one of my old bibles, it says “If you’re not as close to God as you use to be, guess who moved?”

“…I fear no evil…”

You know what, I do fear evil. I fear what it can do because I now what it has done. I fear evil people. I fear that that God is going to “punish” me by bringing harm to those I love or devastation to my life through other means because of my sin and revolt. I fear that my staying power may not stay. I fear that I will not live in order to last. I fear that I will be afraid too much to act. But….

I am not alone, I have a comforter; a protector; a great shepherd whose rod and staff will bring a sense of relaxation and release from all those fears.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”

That word “follow” in the New Living Translation is translated as “pursue”. Like “The Hound of Heaven”, God’s goodness and mercy will not let me go. It will pursue me all of my days. How could my eyes ever be blind to the magnitude of love expressed by our Creator? Where can I go to escape such a love whose arms stretched so wide as to embrace all who would come to Him? Could I ever out run the flow of cleansing blood that comes from Calvary’s mount? Is there a place to flee where my ears would not hear the echo of His words, “it is finished!”?

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…

Father Spirit, thank you that you love me enough to pursue me; To keep your goodness and mercy ever available through Christ. Lead me in the path of right living for your name’s sake. May it be.