Fitness Formula
He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 Hebrew World
Restores – David was just out of touch. If he really wanted restoring, he would have grabbed a PowerAde or an energy bar. He might have taken extra multi-vitamins or gone to the doctor to get a prescription for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But David was stubborn. He believed that God was the only source of restoration.
When David wrote this Psalm, he had more in mind than “spiritual” renewal. The words literally say, “He causes my nephesh to return.” Hebrew uses the word nephesh for the whole person; what we call body, mind and soul in the Greek world. David realizes that it is God who brings renewal and restoration to life. God returns both physical and spiritual well-being.
Now that we see David is talking about the whole person, notice the verb he uses. God causes my life to return. If it is returned, where was it? The answer to that question is found in all the actions of life that use us up. Little by little, the road less traveled dissipates our vitality. Often we don’t notice how tired we really are until we stop doing things. That’s when we recognize that we need a return to well-being. Restoration requires planned intervals of rest. Do you suppose Shabbat has something to do with this?
If you feel like you’re in a marathon, you might consider your need for regular restoration along the way. Without it, damage is inevitable. Athletes know all about this when it comes to physical exertion, but somehow we think the same principle doesn’t apply to the rest of our lives. David’s solution to this exhaustion is not vacation. His poetry provides the explanatory parallel in the next sentence. How does God restore my person? By leading me in the paths of righteousness. I am renewed, physically and spiritually, when I am following His instructions.
Listen, disobedience is exhausting. All that maneuvering, hiding, anticipating, covering up—it just wears us down until we reach the bottom. Then we realize that we have been on the wrong path the whole time. Sin is a tiring business. Maybe you and I are just tired of being tired. Maybe you and I need some return of nephesh from wherever it went. There is still hope. Follow the path. Let Him lead. You can still have a life worth living.
Topical Index: restores, nephesh, person, shuv, return, Psalm 23:3
In Other Words
~ Come unto Me – [Who is speaking?]
ALL who are weary – [Who are the qualified?]
and I will give [Who is the Source?]
you* (those who come unto Me- those who present themselves before Me) “rest!”
In Other Words
He has said, [thus saith the LORD!] – “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31.25)
Refreshment? Renewal? Restoration? (both physical and “spiritual!”)
Health? Vitality? Passion? ALL have One Source. – ~ It is the LORD! ~
EVERY (all, y’all) good gift (of which there are not a few!)
and (?) EVERY “perfect gift” is from [the Source] Above..
If we are currently enjoying Peace, Safety, Security, Health (both mental and physical).. We had ought to thank God for these things..
Love gives. (generously, lavishly, “prodigally!”) – and God IS love.
What has God given? – and why? ~ He has given unto us [only?] only ALL THINGS that pertain unto life and godliness!! Child, (of God) open up your presents!! Yes, (amen) start counting your blessings!!
Pause For the Cause
What then shall we say to these things?
~~If God is for us, who is against us? ~~ IF?? -IF?? May I? There IS NO IF’s!
There is NO if’s, ands, or buts about it! My friends, [is this true? lol! – check YES or NO] Is God “for us?” And the answer is?..
~ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ~
~ Who will bring a charge (any charge) against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;…~
Oh, please! Point that finger (of accusation) at me and say “He’s guilty as sin, Your Honor!! My confession? Yes, yes I am. Ahh, but then not the Accuser, but an Advocate (my Savior) speaks for me! Father, forgive him, for my sake. I paid the price for this one. He (now) belongs to Me. My new status? According to the verdict of the Judge- “not guilty!” And not only forgiven, but free! Free indeed.
~ For there is NOW [what?] NO CONDEMNATION to those who are [what?]
*in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8.1) Yes, location-location-location! Are you *in?
Have You Seen This Man?
And? ~ If “any man” (any man, woman or child) is *in Christ Jesus, he (or she) is a [what?] new creation. Old things are passed away, [and?] – “all things” are reclaimed/renewed/restored/redeemed/rejuvenated. New and Improved? I’d say so. – #makesmewannaholler YES!!!!!!!!!!!
~ He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies;.. ~
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9bjPwwLgj0
This is so beautifully written. And so true. Something else from scripture that confirms Skip’s final paragraph is Job 13:26-28, which resonated with me when I found it a few years after baptism… I had led a life of atheism and by the end of that “era” was deflated to the point of near-death in my nephesh. As the spirit of Messiah restored me I felt the difference, so when I read this section of Job I could understood the fact that by walking in wickednesses during my youth, the soles of my feet had sort of soaked up the corruption of the paths in which I walked and that corruption had wasted me away… Simply by walking in paths I had not known, choosing to hold Yah’s hand and walk righteously, obedient to Torah, the corruption itself was slowly dissipating and as I detoxed from sin I felt better physically and as I have endured through the years of devotion to Yah, my physical restoration has been amazing and I do dwell in real life!
CHAYAH!
Deut. 30:15&19
“the corruption itself was slowly dissipating and as I detoxed from sin I felt better physically and as I have endured through the years of devotion to Yah, my physical restoration has been amazing and I do dwell in real life!”
This is a wonderful word picture, so different then how I have been taught about sin. To detox is a process that takes time, I can handle that. The idea that you make a decision to “live for Christ” then don’t sin any more I never could do. Trying to run from the sin just seemed to give the sin more power over me. But when I allow the Father to detox the sin from my life it is in HIS strength and HIS time then I truly begin to live.
absolutely, Jill. The “allowing” itself requires discipline, of course, in tune with the “line upon line, precept upon precept / taking over the land little by little” pattern… but its reward is perfect peace 🙂
Jesse’s grandfather had shown great compassion and esteem for a Moabite woman because of her character. Jesse does not appear to show much esteem for his youngest son even though YHVH saw David as a king. Perhaps when someone is not valued by their family, that also uses up vitality. Maybe it’s not always their disobedience. Did David have the support of his family? Would trust in his father and older siblings have been wise? I don’t know where things went wrong in this family, but it sure doesn’t look like it was a good and pleasant united home front for David. Maybe YHVH knew that it was rejection and abuse that put a huge stumbling block in David’s path. Sounds a lot like Joseph. Maybe David is talking about new memories of belonging and completeness that were filling his mind and helping him to reset and experience shalom because his efforts were actually fruitful. Ephraim and Manasseh Maybe the fatherless can have a father who is not a father. Maybe YHVH became David’s Abba in those lonely pastures because he felt so much like an orphan. Could it be that Jesse had David but David didn’t have Jesse? Perhaps when YHVH stepped in, He made a Way for David. Selah