The words and thoughts found in Psalm 23 have been playing on a loop through my mind while I sleep. Psalm 23 is so familiar. We hear it often in many settings, but perhaps most often when we need comfort such as at funeral services or hospital settings. I know I have quoted it at many celebration of life services.
But Psalm 23 has much to say to us at other times of life. As I drifted off to sleep last night, it was verse 3 that came to mind (and stayed there through the night).
Psalm 23:3: “He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.” [HCSB]
The LORD renews our life … other translations render it, “The LORD restores my soul.”
The word “renews” or “restores” means “to turn back, return.” The LORD returns our soul to what it is meant to be! Wow! He set us back to our “heavenly factory defaults.”
But our LORD does more than just turn our souls back to what they are meant to be, He also gives us purpose. He leads us in righteousness “for His name’s sake.”
We cannot survive without purpose. To live without purpose is to have no goals, nothing to aim for, nothing to strive for. We need to know that we are made for, meant for, something greater and higher than our own selfish desires.
The LORD, JEHOVAH, YAHWEH, the Great Almighty Eternal God, gives us the purpose of knowing Him, loving Him, serving Him … Can there be a greater purpose found anywhere in this universe? I think not.