23rd Psalm Verse 3

Verse 23:3 - He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name sake.

David remembers that as the sheep started out in the morning to graze, each took a definite place in line and held that position all day. 

Often, during the day each sheep leaves its place in line and trots over to the shepherd. The shepherd gently rubs the nose and ears of the sheep, lightly scratches their ears and whispers in them….Reassured …and Encouraged… the sheep take their place back in line.  

In this verse, David remembers how at times he was close to God and at other times far away. God continues to accept him back with love and grace.

Haven’t you at times felt like a squeezed orange?  All the juice and pulp taken out of you?  Sometimes the dawn of a new day can leave us cold and hopeless?  Reconnecting with God can fill us with new life, new breath, and new juice, and David knew this.

Our Shepherd leads us to restoration.  We all come to forks in the road of life.  We cannot decide which way to turn.  We get lost and need guidance.

David is reminded that sheep have no sense of direction.  Sheep are different than cats and dogs who can find their way back home.  They have some kind of internal compass.  This is not so for sheep.  Sheep have very poor eyes and cannot see ten or 15 yards in front of them. 

David is restored by trusting God and gets back on the right path.