Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. This sweetest of the Psalms sings of many mercies which the believer receives, and traces them all to one source — the Good Shepherd Himself. Text reminds us — I. OF OUR TRUE POSITION. It is that of a sheep abiding close to its shepherd. Now this should be ours because of — 1. Our obligations to Christ. 2. Our relationships to Him. 3. If we would have happiness. 4. Our daily necessities. 5. Our infinite perils. 6. The benefits of fellowship. II. OF OUR FREQUENT SIN. "He restoreth my soul" — He often does it; He is doing it now. With many suspended communion is chronic. This most wrong. And where it is not so bad as this, there are sad seasons of declension. They are brought about by worldly, conformity, forgetfulness of duty. Jesus is a jealous lover. III. OF OUR LORD'S FAITHFUL LOVE. He will never give up His sheep. For His name's sake. He will use all manner of means. IV. OF HIS SUPREME POWER. It is HE who does this. It was He who begun the work of grace in you, and therefore He will restore. No outward temptation has force when Christ is present. His presence is the death of every sin, the life of every grace. I see the green leaves of a plant most dear to all who love the woods in spring. It is seen nestling under a hedge under a shelving bank, just above a trickling stream. I ask it why it does not bloom, and it whispers to me that it will bloom by and by. "But, sweet primrose, why not put forth thy lovely flower at once, and gladden us with thy beauty?" She answers, "I am waiting for him — for my lord, the sun; when he cometh and putteth forth his strength I shall put on my beauty." "But wilt thou not need soft pearly drops of dew to glisten on thy leaves, and the violet and the harebell to keep thee company, and the birds to sing to thee?" To which she replies, "He will bring them, he will bring them all." "But art thou not afraid of the frost and the dreary snowstorms?" "He will chase them all away; I shall be safe enough when he comes. Now, we are the plant and Jesus is our sun. And He restores us entirely, and now. Come to Christ direct, not round by Sinai. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.WEB: He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. |
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