Cast Sheep

One of my favorite television shows over the years has been This Old House. I love watching the transformation of a house in need of repair to a showplace. HGTV has built an empire on transforming rooms and closets and kitchens and houses. Today we've made it to verse 3 of Psalms 23, and it's all about transformation.

David writes in verse 3, "He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." We've talked about this before. David knew about restoration. His soul truly needed transformation after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and saw to it that her husband was killed. We'll talk more about that later.

As you know, David spent much of his youth as a shepherd. As a shepherd, he saw sheep in all types of trouble. One term for shepherds that shepherds use is about a sheep in trouble, and they call it being a cast sheep. If you Google for an image of a cast sheep, you'll see a sheep on its back with its four feet up in the air. This is not a good position for the sheep.

If the sheep is heavy with wool, are heavy and out of shape, or pregnant, there's no way they can get up on their own. They're stuck, and without help they will die. If it's hot, they may last a few hours; if it's cool, they can last a few days. The danger of a predator coming and getting a helpless sheep is very real.

What the sheep needs more than anything else is for the shepherd to come and turn them over and restore them to an upright position. If that doesn't happen, the sheep won't make it. This is the beautiful picture of the love of God in our lives. When we mess up and are stuck and in need of restoration, only God, only God can restore our lives.

Over the years I've seen so many restored through the power of God. I've seen those addicted to drugs and alcohol become clean and sober and righteous. I've seen those who have been riddled with guilt and shame become restored to a life of dignity. I've seen people who thought they were useless become champions, for God is in the restoration business. "He restores my soul."

David sure knew about soul restoration. He went from a center to a saint. In Psalm 51 David wrote these words: "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be wider than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness, gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Created me a clean heart, oh God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."

As I read those words, it was interesting that God had to do all the work here, all of the restoration. God had to cleanse, God had to wash, God had to speak, God had to create and renew and restore. We cannot do those things on our own strength. When David wrote "he restores my soul," he knew what he was talking about. He likely was laughing and crying at the same time.

Back to Psalm 23. David wrote, "He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake." God truly wants to lead us to the best places. And John chapter 10, Jesus tells us that he's the Good Shepherd and he wants to lead us. He gave his life for us.

Jesus also warns us that the devil is ready to lead us down the wrong path. We already know that. And verse 10 of John 10, Jesus said about the devil, "The thief comes to steal and kill and destroy." But then Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly." That's a stark contrast. Jesus delivers still water and green pastures and a restored soul, and the devil delivers hopelessness and hell.

We need to also see that this is done for his name's sake. The point here is that the people look at our transformed lives and give all the glory to God. God loves showing off through us. What a world this would be if all those who profess to be Christians sought to live for his Dame's sake.

David, once his life was restored, brought glory to the name of God. Here we are three thousand years later bragging about God as our Shepherd because David let God restore him. What will they say about us tomorrow? I pray it is that we lived lives that brought glory to his name.

I'm continually impressed by the Asbury Revival and all the subsequent, subsequent revivals that are taking place in this world. I encourage you to pray for revival for his name's sake. Be a good sheep. Pray with me.

Lord, we thank you for the soul restoration that is going on even as I speak, and that is what this world needs. And so, God, we just trust you, and we ask that we would be good sheep, that we would follow, that we would allow that restoration in our lives, that that restoration would occur in this world, and that we would bring glory to you for your name's sake. In Jesus' name, amen.