Psalms 23:3 Monte T. Brown
Introduction
1. He Restoreth My Soul
Restoreth means to renew or bring back to a place once enjoyed.
There is the doctrine of restoration taught in the Bible.
The word "Meshibah" "restoreth" is translated in Psalms 19:7, converting.
There is Restoration from disorder and decay (Psalms 80:19)
There is Restoration from sorrow and affliction (Ruth 4:15)
There is Restoration from Restoration from death (I Kings 17:21-22)
We need relaxation, recuperation, and rehabilitation.
• The shepherd knows that sheep are prone to wander.
• They can’t see pass 14 feet in front of them.
• They can't jump a fence unless away from it. Never close to fence.
Sometimes the shepherd has to break the leg of habitual strayer to break it of the habit.
Dog, cat, horse can find its way home; but not a sheep. Sheep stray easily.
The shepherd restores the sheep by:
1. Warning.
2. Exhortation.
3. Trouble.
4. Chastening.
Peter was restored by a look. David was restored by judgment.
Abraham was restored by trouble.
II. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his
name sake.
It is the responsibility of the shepherd to lead, and the responsibility of the sheep to follow.
The shepherd leads us down the paths of righteousness. Titus 2:11-12
The shepherd leads us, for his name sake.
When the shepherd leads his sheep it may not always seem right.
However; "all paths of the Lord are mercy and truth." Psalms 25:10
Short cuts often prove the longest way around. "God led them not through the way of the Philistines, although that was near." Exodus 13:17
We need to trust the shepherd in the paths that he takes us on, because some paths have a dead end.
But the shepherd’s paths are paths of:
1. Righteousness
2. Rest
3. Refreshment Water and grass
4. Rigor Through the valley
Remember the shepherd leads us for his name sake. Philippians 2:9-10; John 17:12
The shepherd has connected his name and glory with the walk and conduct of his people.
My salvation is tied up with the shepherd. ("None of them is lost.")
He will keep his sheep, for it is a calamity, a shame for a shepherd to lose a sheep.
The Shepherd's reputation is at stake.
For a shepherd who permitted a stray Iamb to perish is a disgrace, even for years afterwards. (Luke 1 5:4-6, "Ninety and nine")
The Names of the Shepherd, Jehovah
No doubt the name "Jehovah" means, "the existing, the abiding, eternal, steadfast, permanent, dependable, true, "Who is and will ever be," or, as the exalted Lord Himself declares.
"He who is and he who was and He who is to come." Revelation 1:4, 8; 4:8)
In the most manifold way the name Jehovah gives to us a picture of salvation, Christian living, and experience and eternal glory.
There are seven names of Jehovah in the Old Testament direct, also revealed in Psalms 23:1-6.
1. Jehovah-Rohi; The Lord is my shepherd. Psalms 23:1
2. Jehovah-Shalom; The Lord who is or gives peace.
Psalms 23:2 (Judges 6:24)
3. Jehovah-Rapha; The Lord the physician.
Psalms 23:3 (Exodus 15:26)
4. Jehovah-Tsidkenu; The Lord our Righteousness.
Psalms 23:3 (Jeremiah 23:6)
5. Jehovah-Shammah; The Lord is there, the tabernacle of
God with men. Psalms 23:4 (Ezekiel 48:35)
6. Jehovah-Nissi; The Lord my banner.
Psalms 23:5 (Exodus 7:15)
7. Jehovah-Jireh; The Lord who provides.
Psalms 23:6 (Genesis 22:14)
Conclusion/Invitation
The one other name that sums up all the names is the name "Jehovah-Sabaoth"; The Lord Of Host.
These other names I will briefly mention so you can be looking for them in the future.
1. Adonai; means Lord 450 times
2. El; means mighty God 230 times
3. El Shaddai; means Almighty 50 times
4. El Elyon; means most high God 32 times
5. Elohim; means Creator 2570 times
6. Jehovah; means redeeming and covenant God. ..6000 times
7. Eloth; means strong one (Almighty) 50 times
Thus altogether the names of God occur in the Old Testament about 6,000 times. This shows their vast and exalted significance in Biblical revelation.
Without a doubt our shepherd is none other than Jehovah, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, the God of Restoration.
The question I must ask is Do you know him today?
I couldn’t ask it any better than the well known hymn “Without Him” asks:
WITHOUT HIM
VERSE 1
Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I'd surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail
CHORUS
Jesus, O Jesus
Do you know Him today
Do not turn Him away
O Jesus, O Jesus
Without Him, how lost I would be!
VERSE 2
Without Him I could be dying
Without Him I'd be enslaved
Without Him life would be hopeless
But with Jesus, Thank God
I'm saved!
CHORUS
Jesus, O Jesus
Do you know Him today
Do not turn Him away
O Jesus, O Jesus
Without Him, how lost I would be!
