He Restores My Soul

When King David wrote: "He restores my soul" in Psalm 23:3, he seemed to have in mind the sheep that was 'cast' due to its thick wool fleece. Sometimes sheep would roll onto its back and due to the thickness of its wool fleece it could not right itself. Gases would immediately begin to build up in its abdomen and, if not righted in a matter of minutes, it could suffocate. A watchful shepherd would come to the aid of this 'cast' sheep and restore it to its upright position and thus save its life.
The soul of man represents our mind, will and emotions. It is in this area that we are often cast down and lifeless. Hopelessness and despair have its roots in the mind, will and emotions. David looked back over his life and thought of all the times he was a 'cast sheep' who could not right himself. All those moments when hopelessness ruled the day and governed his heart. However, the watchful Shepherd would come to set him upright and restore his life to him.
God has always been about restoration. Ever since our forefather Adam disobeyed God and caused humankind to fall from the divine relationship with its Creator, God has sought to restore the creature to his rightful place in HIM! The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah in these words: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord..." (Isa 61:1-2a).
In Luke 4:18-22 we see Jesus fulfilling this prophecy when He, as a visiting rabbi, read this passage from the scroll in the temple. He then closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and with all the eyes of those in the synagogue fixed upon Him said: "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing".
Isaiah's passage about the favorable year of the Lord speaks of the Year of Jubilee. The fiftieth year where losses were returned, captives were liberated and prisoners were set free. Jesus is our Jubilee. Through Him we have access to our heavenly Father. Through Him we are set free from our fears of tomorrow and our guilt of the past. Through Him losses are recovered. We are living in the "acceptable time" or "favorable year" of Grace. What we lost, through wrong choices or through the sin of others, can be restored through Christ. Thank God for a GOOD SHEPHERD who keeps constant watch over His Sheep. Thank God that HE RESTORES MY SOUL!