He restores my soul

Last week, a friend was talking to me about how sheep can become ‘cast down’, and the dangerous implications it has to the life of the sheep. A cast down sheep is one which has fallen over onto its back.  This makes it vulnerable to predators and requires immediate action by the shepherd to ensure it will survive

Phillip Keller in his book “A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23” writes “again and again I would spend hours searching for a single sheep that was missing.  Then more often than not I would see it at a distance, down on its back, lying helpless.  At once I would start to run towards it – hurrying as fast as I could – for every minute was critical.  Within me there was a mingled sense of fear and joy; fear that it might be too late and joy that it was found at all.”

What a beautiful picture of our Lord and Friend, the Good Shepherd, Who constantly watches out for us. Sheep may become cast down because of overeating and becoming so heavy it can’t stay upright.  We may become cast down by the distractions and cares of this world, stuck in wrong thoughts and desires.

God has provided help and hope we need when our soul is cast down.  Psalm 23 tells us that ‘He restores my soul”.  The word restore means to “turn back” or “turn again.” When we are cast down, the faithful perfect Shepherd is able to ‘turn us back’ to the right position.

Psalm 42 and 43 repeat the phrase “why are cast down oh my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?” Psalm 43:5.  And the answer is “Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

Beloved, if you have been cast down, remember that our holy and perfect Father has made a way for us to be redeemed and rescued from down cast positions.  His grace and mercy is new every morning, and great is His faithfulness to us.

Shalom

Kath