Psalm 19 - Back on Your Feet

“The Law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul…” Psalm 19:7a

The young sheep was out looking for a better place. A greener, softer, cooler place to take a much-needed rest. The space around his flock was too loud, too busy, and well, just not right for him. As the little sheep ventured into unknown territory, he crossed a small stream which saturated the underbelly of his woolen coat. As he exited the stream, now bottom-heavy with water, he stumbled on an unseen tree root and tumbled down into a dense thicket. One thing he hated about being a sheep was that if you fell, it was impossible to get back up. His shepherd called this dilemma being “downcast”, that is, when one of his sheep had fallen and was unable to right themselves. Just last year, one of his friends in the flock had died because he had become downcast in the sun and the shepherd had not been able to get him back on his feet quick enough. Yes, becoming downcast was definitely a bad thing. And this time he had made it much worse by wandering off from the safety of the flock and his shepherd. As his small hooves flailed in the air, getting him nowhere, his mind shifted to the day befoer, easily living under the comfortable care and watchful eye of his shepherd. Oh, how he now longed to see the face of his shepherd. He longed to see him draw near, grasp his feet firmly, and flip him back up onto his feet...restoring him. Yes, his only hope now was to be restored by his shepherd.

King David knew this situation only too well. If you recall, when Samuel the prophet went to David’s home to name the new king of Israel, young David was out in the fields tending the sheep. David was at heart, a shepherd. And because of that, he knew the tendencies of sheep to stray from the flock as they looked for better things. David knew that their wanderlust to find greener pastures could cause them to become downcast, helpless to right themselves, just like the little sheep in the story above. And the result of being downcast could be tragic if not found quickly enough by the shepherd and restored back to their feet. And it is in this amazing 'sheeply' parallel that we find David praising the Lord in Psalm 19 for restoring his downcast soul. But you will also probably recall this same sentiment from David in the most famous of all Psalms, Psalm 23:2. “He restores my soul.” And also in Psalm 42:11 we see David mention it again, “why are you downcast o’ my soul, why are you so disturbed within me?” So why do you think king David, a man with a heart after God's own, was so quick to revisit the image of a fallen sheep so often? Well, if you know sheep, and king David did, you know why.

Sheep are mentioned over 500 times in the Bible, more than any other animal. And within most of those mentions, sheep are compared to the human condition. Sheep are stubborn, prideful, and long for their own 'better' way. Sheep are prone to follow their pride into situations that can cause them great harm. And sheep have no natural defense mechanism against the dangers of this world. As a result of these, sheep are completely dependent upon their shepherd for food, safety, protection, and guidance. And so it should be no surprise as to why Jesus Christ is known as the Good Shepherd.

Today, as we wander this dark world with our pride and arrogance lighting our way, we will become downcast. We will stumble, fall, and become entangled in the thickets of this life. And as we do, only the Good Shepherd can restore us to our feet. Only the Good Shepherd can restore a downcast soul that belongs to Him. Today, if you are downcast, despondent, or discouraged, it is a sign that you are in need of being restored. Pray to Christ to come into your heart and set your soul firmly back on its feet. David knew this truth…only the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, can restore a downcast soul to the glory in which Christ intends it to walk daily. Praise be to Jesus Christ, the good shepherd.

Blessings ~ Dan

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me…” John 10:11, 14

“All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on Him the sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:6

Amazona Frentialba (white-fronted parrot) Val'Quirico, Mexico