LIGHT FOR SOUL HEALTH (1)

“HE RESTORES MY SOUL; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake” – Psalm 23:3

The Shepherd’s Psalm displays Divine LIGHT for SOUL HEALTH: “HE RESTORES my SOUL; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake” (Psa.23:3). Psalm 23 presents a profound declaration of God as Shepherd. Believers in Christ can testify that the Lord is our Shepherd, Redeemer, Restorer and Soul Satisfier! At humanity’s inception, God released His Breath into the human frame, the body, and “man became a Living Soul” (Psa.2:7). The soul was meant to operate in harmony with Divinity, but when Man sinned, his soul died, because “the soul who sins shall die” (Eze.18:20). Sin dented the soul. Sin is the sickness of the soul, for which salvation, deliverance, and restoration are required. It is of no profit for one to gain the whole world and lose his soul (Mk.8:36).

The soul is the core of every human being that would either be eternally saved in Christ, or damned and forever lost in a Christ-less eternity in hell. In Adam, the soul died. In Christ – the Good Shepherd, the Soul’s Health is restored! The Good Shepherd gives the Soul:

Rest: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (v.2a). Peaceful Rest and proper Nourishment replace weariness and hunger (Mt.11:28). By Grace, we conquer anxiety, triumph over turmoil, and prevail over perplexities.

Refreshing: “He leads me beside quiet waters” (v.2b). Knowing that sheep will not drink from rushing water; the Shepherd dams the rushing stream to provide a tranquil pool to safely drink from, meet the soul’s thirst with His Peace in a turbulent world (Psa.46:10).

Restoration: “He restores my soul” (v.3a). When we’re almost down and discouraged, He reboots our system (Lk.15:4-6).

Guidance and Direction: “He leads me” (v.3b). Direction replaces confusion (Ps.25:1-4). Life is like an unmarked road with blind turns and junctions, but we can trust in God’s guidance to make the right Choices. 

Courage: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow the death, I will fear no evil” (v.4a). His Presence eliminates fear (2Tim.1:7).

His Presence: “For You are with me” (v.4b). The Lord is present to delete all despair; His fence all around as He watches over us (Ps.4:8; 121:3).

Comfort: “Your rod and staff comfort me” (v.4c). In this comfortless world, our Good Shepherd gave us another Comforter – the Holy Spirit (Jh.14:26, 16:33).

Abundant Provisions: “You prepare a table before me” (v.5a). He not only supplies, He prepares a banquet table just for us (Dt.28:1-14).

Protection: “in the presence of my enemies” (v.5b). In God’s Presence, Satan can only threaten; he cannot touch. The Divine Decree has been declared: “Saying, “Do not touch My anointed one, and do My prophets no harm” (Ps.105:15).

Anointing – Power for Performance: “you anoint my head with oil” (v.5c). All Power in heaven and earth belong to Jesus (Mt.28:18).

Joy: “my cup runs over…Goodness and Mercy” (v.6). Angels Goodness and Mercy accompany us perpetually.