- Restores Soul
Psalm 23.3
He restoreth my soul.
Restore = replenish, resupply, fill up again, refresh, renew, put back what has been lost, repair what has been damaged. Restore usually means putting back to an original operative state something that has been lost, damaged, or stolen from the soul. The diminishment of the soul by sin and death happens constantly; therefore, restoration of the soul to full life and working order is also something that must happen constantly.
It should be that once we have been restored (saved) we should stay restored, but it doesn’t work that way. Once we have been restored, which should happen daily, we begin leaking energy and sustenance once again, leeching it out through sin, unbelief, pride, unclean thoughts, harsh words, etc., etc. We don’t usually feel it happening, but just walking through the world drains spiritual energy, and we need constant restoring. That’s what the promise of the Shepherd is for: constant restoring.
“Restoreth” = 24/7, ongoing, always working, never ceasing, present and active.
Sinners are prone to wander; David is a wanderer and God is a Restorer. Nothing but trouble results when the sheep gets lost: in time he exhausts himself, loses strength, is defenseless against enemy attack, and would be about to die at the hands of his enemies. That is when the friendly arm picks him up, carries him and brings him back to the fold. He loves his sheep, follows them with interest, extricates them from danger and restores the soul.
The Shepherd deals providentially and waits to be gracious. Afflictions meet wandering sheep, and the Shepherd may allow some time for him to consider the folly of his ways. He may delay his rescue, but it will come. The loving Shepherd may delay rescue to allow the conscience to go to work; he becomes conscious of misery; this conviction leads to confession; he pleads mercy and forgiveness. Then the Spirit rouses him to contrition and he comes back again to a relationship with the Lord. This process may have ebbs and flows, but it doesn’t take many breaks. Most sheep are in a continual restorative mode, and it always works. The Lord is a perpetual restorer.