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Subject: Refreshing Restoration Author: Hillbilly [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 19:58:11 04/11/14 Fri Psalms 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. "He restoreth my soul---". Truly a a statement from David that bears reflection and meditation. There are various meanings that may be applied to the word restore such as return something that was taken or return to a former state but what I see is the bringing back to a condition that was once enjoyed but is now marred and in a state of disarray. The need or desire for restoration may be from the standpoint of the betrayal of a trust by a friend. It may be from something you have done to bring shame or dishonor or it could be from some sin committed. David may have been thinking of a prayer he had uttered that was graciously answered by God. David had humbly and sorrowfully asked God to "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. " in Psalms 51:12. Restore unto me what You graciously gave and I foolishly threw away. David was guilty of " in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam. 11:14-15) and was guilty of adultery with Uriah's wife Bathsheba. As a result his conscience would not let him rest. His soul was brought down in guilt and grief at his sin. David was most likely at the lowest point of his life as far as fellowship with God was concerned. A "soul" (ones spirit) may be brought down to "rock bottom" by many things. It might be sin. It might be grief from something a friend has done in betrayal of trust you had placed. The anger one often feels can result in bitterness toward that person and it can eat at your soul until you have broken communion with God. It might be deep remorse over something you did to someone else or sin committed against God (all sin is against God even if it is a wrong committed against another person). Children and other family members can put you in deep depression and your soul is wounded in sorrow. How many times has God brought you up out of that "dark pit"? Every Christian ought to read Psalm 51:1-17 and put yourself in David's place and then read Psalm 40:1-5. We may not have done knowingly the things that David did but we are guilty of the blood of Jesus because of our own sin. What a contrast we can see in the two passages. Deep despair in Psalm 51 and overwhelming joy in Psalm 40. I have known the depths of despair and I have known the restoration. I can remember a time of deep remorse over sin committed and finding and old tree stump out away from the house on a clear cool summer night. It was there I poured out my heart to God as David and I can well remember the restoration as the forgiveness of God poured into my soul and I felt the restoration of joy and fellowship with the God I had betrayed. I, with David, could rightly say "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight". (Psalm 51:4) Whether it is something you have done or something someone else did that brings you down in deep depression it is the Lord God merciful, mighty and full of grace that can bring you back up and restore you to the fellowship with Him that you once had. No one can truly worship God if the soul is not healed. There will be that constant conviction in your heart that things that are wrong must be made right and the only place to take the problem to is our Lord. "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." (Psalms 55:22) "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7) [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Thank you Hillbilly Author: Caren [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 20:02:55 04/11/14 Fri I am going to go read Psalm 40 right now and I will read your message over several times. I do appreciate it.

[> [> Subject: I assure you Author: Hillbilly [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 15:32:49 04/12/14 Sat it's certainly not me. God's Word gave me a wonderful uplift also. When I reflect back on the numerous times there has been a restoring and lifting up of my spirit and soul I am reminded that David and the other Bible saints were no different than we in this respect. Life was troublesome to them as it is all of us. They were all failures at times. We try to maintain a perfect and sinless relationship with God forgetting that it is impossible on our part. We must go to Him time and again for the uplifting. The Apostle Paul struggled with this daily. Romans 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

[> [> Subject: I'm going to read Psalm 40, too Author: dori [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 00:14:34 04/13/14 Sun God bless!

[> Subject: This study did that, Hillbilly Author: dori [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 07:40:55 04/12/14 Sat It restored and uplifted my soul. Thank you for touching my heart. God bless you, dear friend, for sharing your walk with us.