Bring Back Home Again

O. T. #1198  "Bring Back Home Again"
April 26, 2018
Psalms 23-Part 3
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Psalms 23:3

LET IT GLOW

My two cats, they are something else. They are brothers, who remind me of the Prodigal son story. The orange one (Mr. T), tends to go astray from our farm. I really think he has another family, and we  are only his weekend family now. That seems to be when he shows up to eat here, anyway. Now the white one (Snowball), he is good to stay here, most of the time. So whenever I go out to feed and water them in the mornings, I'm not sure who will be there. Of course, he or they enjoy my petting and talking to them as they eat. I don't scold them for their wanderings, just welcome them back home again. And so it is at our house.
Sheep are wanderers, too. They may stray away from the herd and their shepherd as they eat, stray on the wrong path, or just go their own way. Sound familiar? Even the best saints have similar tendencies. We wander along on a side path off of God's path for us. We yield to sin and skip our prayer time and even walk by the Bible without opening it.

God knows where we are, though. The first part of our verse reassures us that He restores our soul.
Restores (shuwb, shoob)has several meanings: to turn back; to retreat; bring back home again; fetch home again; recover, refresh, render, rescue, retrieve, return, reverse, reward.

The shepherd know his sheep so intimately that he realizes when one or more have gone astray from the fold. So the shepherd goes through whatever terrain to fetch his sheep and bring them back again. If they are injured, he may carry them upon his shoulders. Now that is compassion.
Our Good Shepherd is the same way. He keeps up with His children, knows when we stray away from Him and His way, when we are down in trouble, need rescuing, need help and even carried.
Jesus' love never fail, it never gives up, never runs out on me, as the song goes. When burdens, persecution, trials exhaust our soul, or people discourage us,  He is there to restores. What a Wonderful Savior!

When part of the definition of restore do we need the Lord to supply for us today? He is everything that we need.

LET IT GROW

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

The sheep may travel through dark valleys, yet they need not fear the danger as long as they remain near the shepherd.

Leadeth in the Hebrew language is the word nahal, naw-hal'; it refers to run with a sparkle, to flow, to protect, sustain-carry, feed, guide, lead gently, lead on.

The amazing grace of God does all these things for His beloved ones. Sometimes we need reminding that wherever we may go, and in every circumstance, we are near our Shepherd's watchful care. Our Savior wants to lead us, not just point the way, on the straight and narrow path for our life. So let us turn from our way to His way.

It is for His name's sake that he leads me in the paths of righteousness after Jesus restores my soul.

The Good Shepherd will never lead His sheep in paths that would prove harmful or destructive because it is contrary to His character. God only does that which brings honor to His name. (LifeWay's Bible Studies For Life)

LET IT GO

Keep praying for those who need to be brought back home to Jesus.
He is forever mine, so when I stray, Jesus fetches me home to His side.
Refresh and rejuvenate my soul when it is need.