Restored For His Namesake
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
No one has been able to pinpoint the exact time in David’s life when Psalm 23 was written. But many scholars believe that David wrote this in his later years. I can imagine as David lifted his pen to write this verse, a tear may have rolled down his cheek as he penned the words: He restoreth my soul.
His mind raced back as he remembered the prophet of God pointing that finger of judgment, and the words: Thou art the man! He remembered the awful feeling of his sin being exposed and having nowhere to hide. Since the death of King Saul, Israel had looked to David as their perfect role model. Saul had began his reign with good intentions, but quickly established himself as a cowardly leader (1 Samuel 14) and a man obsessed with jealousy (1 Samuel 18). David would finally give Israel a reason to be proud of their king with his Godly example and spotless reputation.
Then comes the tragic account of 2 Samuel chapter 11. David for unknown reasons, makes the decision to stay home while his army fights against the Ammonites. Those who neglect their calling have put both feet into the trap of temptation. After David’s sin with Bathsheba, we can only imagine the disconnect that was between him and God. No psalms of victory were written. The harp was now silent and collected dust in the corner. This had all the marks of a scandal. The sin, the secrets and the shame of being exposed.
We all wish that David would have went to the Lord and confessed his sin. But God in his love, came to David. As Christians, we often focus on the shame when sin is revealed, but we fail to look at the dangers of someone who continues to live with their unconfessed sins.
When the prophet Nathan told the story of a lamb who was killed in cold blood, David’s anger arose and he pronounced death on this sinful man. Then the prophet spoke the words that uncovered a year of hidden sins: “Thou art the man!” David’s response was only that of a man after God’s heart: “I have sinned against the Lord.” King Saul had justified his sin by blaming the people but David signs his name on the guilty verdict. Some people have criticized the short length of his repentance. But remember in Luke 18 where Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and publican? In Luke 18:13, the Pharisee has just given his long prayer about how good he is. On the other hand, the publican doesn’t even lift his eyes but prays a short prayer: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Jesus said the publican went away justified. So let us remember that it’s not the amount of words but the sincerity of our repentance that justifies us in the eyes of God.
As a young shepherd boy, David had restored countless sheep who had went astray. Now, he feels the arms of the Great Shepherd as they restore him back into paths of righteousness. David later wrote in Psalm 32:
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart
Restoration is for the Lord’s name’s sake. You cannot minimize the grace of God but you can change how others perceive it. If God’s grace is not applied to your hopeless situation, then others will only see hopelessness in their situation. I want to leave you with the words of a song that Sandy has just written. If you are in need of restoration, no matter what it is. I want you apply these words to your life:
There is restoration in the presence of the Lord. You don’t have to carry that burden any more. There is strength and there is healing, in the nail scarred hands of Jesus. No matter your condition, in His presence there is always restoration.