Healing the Soul (4)

David spoke in Psalm 23 of God being his shepherd, who provided for all of his needs. God caused him to lie down in green pastures, led him beside still waters and restored his soul. This verse points to the fact that it is possible to restore the soul. Restoration relates to bringing back or re-establishing something to its former state. The Psalm suggests that David’s soul had been depleted, worn out or exhausted. He was the youngest of Jesse’s sons and not even considered when Samuel visited, to anoint one of them to be king. He spent most of his time in the fields, looking after flock for his father or running errands for his brothers. He was anointed despite his father’s misgivings and set himself apart, when he took down Goliath.

Saul appointed David to his service as a Musician first and then a soldier in his army. He soon grew jealous of David once the people celebrated him more after victory. He made several attempts to kill David who constantly ran and hid as he pursued him. It was only when David entered enemy territory when Saul stopped pursuing him. These challenges would have made David exhausted, weary and his soul would have been wounded. Yet, he sought sustenance and restoration from God. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”(Psalm 23:4). He was confident that God would prepare a table of good things, in the very presence of his enemies.

Moreover, God’s anointing was continually over his life and he overflowed with the presence of God. He was confident of God’s goodness forever and made a vow to remain always in the presence of God. David often worried about the advances of the wicked and oftentimes cried out to God for help. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid” (Psalm 27:1)? He was confident about the outcome for the wicked who rose up against him. He could depend on God as a rock and shelter and his heart always rejoiced in the Lord. “And now shall mine head be lifted up, Above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD” (Psalm 27:6).

Many times David almost lost hope, when he saw what appeared to be the prosperity of the wicked. Yet he learnt how to wait on the Lord and to take courage. “I had fainted, Unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13). He observed that although the wicked seemed to prosper for a season or spring up like a herb, very soon they wither and are driven away by the wind. Life can be challenging and trials can cause us to feel wounded. Like David, God is able to restore our souls. We have to trust him, surrender and allow him to do his work in our lives. God will prepare a table in the presence of our enemies and he will restore lost relationships and opportunities. Our praise and worship acknowledges the power and awesome of God and sets him high above our difficulties.

A.P.-Y.