Psalm 23:3 He Restores My Soul

Well, as noted, the Advent word for the day is joy.We're going to talk about biblical joy, all right?Biblical joy, and we'll connect that to Psalms in a moment, has the components of a deep sense of assurance, an inward confidence, a reassurance as we navigate life.It's anchored, biblical joy, in some truths and facts about our lives that, as believers, cannot be taken away or diminished no matter what we go through.It has a very close ally, and what I call biblical hope.I've always said that biblical hope is not hope-so-hope, it's know-so-hope.Joy is similar in many ways.It's not a joy based on externals.I believe that's called happiness. [00:37:16] (54 seconds)  #JoyBeyondHappiness

David's going to teach that during those times, God's joy sustains us.As you know, Psalm 23 is the analogy of a shepherd caring for his flock.You look at a shepherd and a flock of sheep, you just say, man, what an easy job.Just sit there and watch them graze.Nothing is easy, or excuse me, nothing is farther from the truth.If you're a good shepherd, which Jesus says he is in John chapter 10, it's remarkable how much a good shepherd, what it took to be a good shepherd.How much skill it took.How you had to know each individual lamb and his tendencies and his weaknesses. [00:40:24] (41 seconds)  #ShepherdKnowsYou

132 times this word is used in Psalms, which is a book about God's interaction with his people.Today, we would use the word heart.I love you with all of my heart.My heart goes out to that person.When we speak about a heart, it's the deepest core, not just that organ.It's that deepest soul of who we are, where our emotions lie, where we are at.Philip Keller, in his book, gives a different option of the word soul.He draws your attention to the word cast down.He says in Psalms 42, 5, Why are you cast down, O my soul?And in Psalms 42, Why am I discouraged?Why is my soul cast down? [00:43:22] (52 seconds)  #WhyIsMySoulCastDown

Now, cast down means very little to you and me.But if you were a shepherd, you heard the phrase cast down, it would get your attention.Do we have a picture next?Ah, there it is.That's the picture of a lamb that is cast down.It's on its back,And on its own, it cannot get up.If that happened to one of your sheep as a shepherd, you went into action.Because this is a very vulnerable condition for a lamb to find itself in.I believe we're going to find that in our lives, it's when we get overwhelmed.As one man says, when all is going well, and then it isn't. [00:44:16] (52 seconds)  #WhenLifeOverwhelms

A couple of huge problems.There was great danger.If you don't know this, sheep are incredibly defenseless.Their best tool is to run, and they don't run fast, but it's all they got.To lose that when they are cast down,Is serious.Their natural instinct was to panic.To flail, to cry out.But that made them easy praying for predators.If a wolf heard a lamb cry out, What the wolf heard was, Hey, it's time for dinner.So it drew the attention of predators.And then Keller says, In time, they would just give up, And accept their fate.Just, I give up. [00:45:49] (48 seconds)  #PanicMakesYouVulnerable

During those times, When you feel that way,And someone says, You shouldn't feel that way.Has that ever helped?And I'll know.Thank you.And all of history of mankind, I don't think you should not feel that way, Has that ever helped once?Amen?Sometimes it hurts.Like that, Just come with being human.Doesn't mean we've done something wrong.Just comes with the territory, Of being clothed in flesh and blood.And can I say that during the holiday seasons, It can happen more often in people's lives. [00:52:46] (41 seconds)  #FeelingsAreValid

And then he takes time and encourages us.He affirms our value in his eye.Then he gets us back on the right path.During those times, When we're upside down on the inside,I love the good shepherd's response.I believe that's connected to the next line.Where David then follows up by saying, He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor his name's sake.Now I'm going to define The path of righteousness As the path, The road That God wants me on At the moment. [00:54:21] (49 seconds)  #LedInPathsOfRighteousness

Whether it's a spouse Or a parent Or a boss Even if that's your view of God That's a different conversation.You know that if you do this You live a life that's pleasing to God.It's the path of righteousness.It's momentarily surrendering to God.God in this situation What do you want from me?I'm going to do it I trust you with the rest.As I do that David says I'm living a life Of righteousness.Which we sometimes ComplicateAnd make it sound like It's unattainable It is not. [00:58:10] (31 seconds)  #PathOfRighteousness