A Study in the Psalms: Psalm 23
Psalm 23:3a
Psalm 42:5,6a
How does a sheep become cast? When it is lying content on the grass, sometimes it will roll slightly to stretch and the center of gravity shifts just enough that the sheep finds it's feet are no longer touching the ground. It begins to panic and paw desperately which only makes the situation worse. While it is stuck on its back, gases begin to build up in its body. As these gases expand, they can begin to cut off the circulation to the legs. Depending on the weather, the sheep could die in a few hours or it could be several days.
Once the sheep is found, the shepherd would have to gently pick it up and put it on its feet. Sometimes he would have to rub the legs to help bring back the circulation. Keller points out that the sheep would sometimes stagger and stumble in the process of standing on its own, but the shepherd was right there to make sure the sheep could stand and walk once again and eventually it would dart back to rejoin the flock.
Jesus told a parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7. Now that I have a better understanding of what usually causes a lost sheep, it's easier to understand the desperation that comes with trying to find the sheep. The shepherd searched until he found that lost sheep. He didn't want the sheep to fall prey to a predator or die in a helpless position. He left all the other sheep in search of the missing one, and he didn't give up the search until the sheep was found.
What a great parallel to my Christian life!
When I make mistakes, when I turn my back on Him, when I fall, when I get discouraged and downcast, God doesn't get disgusted and upset with me for my failure. He has compassion on me. He lovingly pursues me and comes with a quietness and gentleness to lift me back up and place me back on my feet and restore me back to the relationship I had with Him and with other believers. Like the shepherd sometimes has to trim the wool or put a sheep on a diet to reduce the danger of becoming cast, He may need to "trim" some things out of my life so that it's not as easy for me to become "cast" again, but He does so out of mercy and love.
Psalm 56:13
I am so thankful for my loving Shepherd's vigilance, and that He, too is watching for any danger that might come to me. I'm thankful I have a Shepherd Who pursues me and restores my soul when I fall and get discouraged. When He "trims" things out of my life, it's for my own good and protection.
Keller, W. Phillip. "He Restoreth My Soul." A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Pub. House, 1970. 59-69. Print.
Psalm 23:3a
He restores my soul.The word restore, in Hebrew, means to return or bring back. Soul refers to my being or person. Jesus as my Good Shepherd refreshes or revives my spirit. There are times that even as a Christian, I become downcast and experience despair. David did, which can be clearly seen in some of the psalms he's written. However, he never stayed in that state of despair. He knew what it meant for Jesus, the Good Shepherd to restore his soul, to revive him spiritually and emotionally. In the end, he remembered to turn his eyes and focus on God and what God had done for him.
Psalm 42:5,6a
Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God...My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember You.Keller describes the parallel between a Christian feeling downcast and a "cast down" sheep. "This is an old English shepherd's term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself." (60) He refers to this as a rather "pathetic sight." Picture the sheep lying on it's back with its legs in the air. It's desperately trying to stand up, but it can't. It might bleat a little, but most of the time, it's just flailing frantically with no success. It's the shepherd's job to help the sheep back on its feet soon or the sheep could die. This is yet another reason for the shepherd to look over his flock with diligence every day. If he notices one or two missing, usually the first thought that comes to mind is that the sheep is cast down somewhere and needs help. Keller points out the "even the largest, fattest, strongest, and sometimes healthiest sheep can become cast and be a casualty. Actually it is often the fat sheep that are the most easily cast." (61)
How does a sheep become cast? When it is lying content on the grass, sometimes it will roll slightly to stretch and the center of gravity shifts just enough that the sheep finds it's feet are no longer touching the ground. It begins to panic and paw desperately which only makes the situation worse. While it is stuck on its back, gases begin to build up in its body. As these gases expand, they can begin to cut off the circulation to the legs. Depending on the weather, the sheep could die in a few hours or it could be several days.
Once the sheep is found, the shepherd would have to gently pick it up and put it on its feet. Sometimes he would have to rub the legs to help bring back the circulation. Keller points out that the sheep would sometimes stagger and stumble in the process of standing on its own, but the shepherd was right there to make sure the sheep could stand and walk once again and eventually it would dart back to rejoin the flock.
Jesus told a parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15:1-7. Now that I have a better understanding of what usually causes a lost sheep, it's easier to understand the desperation that comes with trying to find the sheep. The shepherd searched until he found that lost sheep. He didn't want the sheep to fall prey to a predator or die in a helpless position. He left all the other sheep in search of the missing one, and he didn't give up the search until the sheep was found.
What a great parallel to my Christian life!
When I make mistakes, when I turn my back on Him, when I fall, when I get discouraged and downcast, God doesn't get disgusted and upset with me for my failure. He has compassion on me. He lovingly pursues me and comes with a quietness and gentleness to lift me back up and place me back on my feet and restore me back to the relationship I had with Him and with other believers. Like the shepherd sometimes has to trim the wool or put a sheep on a diet to reduce the danger of becoming cast, He may need to "trim" some things out of my life so that it's not as easy for me to become "cast" again, but He does so out of mercy and love.
Psalm 56:13
For You have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling that I may walk before God in the light of life.This information about cast sheep exemplifies another parallel to my Christian walk. It is so important to be careful when I'm on the "mountaintop" so to speak, when I "feel" close to God and everything is going well. When I become too comfortable or confident in my Christian walk or when I experience great success in the world's eyes, I am in danger of falling, becoming "cast down." My enemy, Satan is going about like a lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8); one easy target is those who might be "cast" or in danger of being "cast."
I am so thankful for my loving Shepherd's vigilance, and that He, too is watching for any danger that might come to me. I'm thankful I have a Shepherd Who pursues me and restores my soul when I fall and get discouraged. When He "trims" things out of my life, it's for my own good and protection.
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