I picked two scriptures from the lectionary today, we will explore one first and then the next. The first one is Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
my whole life long.
It was one of the scriptures my mother made us memorize when we were little and it is a familiar refrain in the Bible. Ryan talked about it last week, we, as sheep, tuning in to Jesus, our good shepherds, voice, tuning into our Master and Lord’s voice. In this particular passage, “He restores my soul,” is actually a statement of conclusion. In other words, green pastures and still waters are the way God restores our souls. And if we stop long enough to let God speak to us, we’ll discover that our souls need restoring. Especially at the end of the semester with the last three of days of class.
“He restores my soul” literally means He causes my life to return. The word restore means replenish, to return to its original state. Restoring my soul means God keeps me going and gives the enjoyment of life back to me. Notice it’s not some general or physical restoration—“He restores my soul.” I would always get sick at the end of the semester, whether it was over Christmas break or if it were May. My mom would say that I was running on adrenaline all during the semester, and if I didn’t take little moments to recharge then I would eventually burn out.
Those who really know God, also know God “makes” us lie down sometimes. We’re not smart enough or willing enough to do many things for our own good. But our Shepherd will do what the Shepherd needs to do to get us where we need to be—in green pastures—so God can restore our souls.
Soul is a very important word in the Bible. The Hebrew term nephesh can be translated soul, life, heart, or mind. Nephesh is the word used in Genesis 2:7 to describe what happened when God breathed into the clay figure He had made: “The man became a living creature [or soul].” Soul refers to the immaterial part of you that will survive beyond this life. The central thing that is most you about you is your soul. Your soul relates and responds to God.
So, if God continually “restores my soul,” how does God do it? First, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” In Hebrew, “green pastures” literally means the tender grass. In sheep terms, it’s rich, lush feeding places from which the flock need never move to be satisfied. What do we do to get fed? What do we do to get our God fix?
Psalm 63 verses 1-4 talks about it this way, “O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than life my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.”
“He leads me beside still waters.” God says, What are you doing over there? C’mon over here. This is where the water is quiet. This is where you can be refreshed. My living water is deep and plentiful. And it restores your soul. Sheep are scared by troubled waters, and so are we. God provides the still waters of God’s thirst-quenching presence. God can satisfy your deepest longings every time we turn to God.
A bit of poetry from Wisdom Path by Jan Richardson,
God of the waters,
help me to know
that there will be wilderness,
but the wilderness
will turn to green land;
that there will be desert,
but in the desert a spring;
that in the heart
of the rock
of my life
will begin to flow
a river
washing through the chasm of my soul;
and that I will walk
wet with memory
when again I touch
dry land.
Don’t you love that imagery. Through the chasm of my soul… I have the memory ot water even when I’m on dry land. In the original text, notice the word beside. This isn’t some down-to-the-river-and-out-again experience. Beside the still waters is where you can live your life. It isn’t a monthly or a weekly thing; it’s a daily, continuous replenishing. The psalmist of Psalm 121 wrote, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” You’re walking with Christ beside still waters, walking in his ways, letting him lead and guide you as the good Shepherd he is. You’re alone with God, not thinking about the time. It’s quiet . . . and God’s restoring you. God actively seeks to restore your soul.
After my grandfather died, my gandaddy because I was the first grandchild and I couldn’t say my r’s when I was little, we gathered in his hospital room, all of his extended family. He had a heart attack and because it was so sudden we were all in shock. He was one of six boys and they were all farmers at one time or another. He went to Clemson when it was a military college and he was stationed at White Plains in El Paso where they were doing nuclear testing. He was a long-time educator in Williamsburg County, one of the counties off of the I-95 corridor, first as a math teacher and then as a principal. He loved Clint Eastwood movies and he challenged me to not use empty words like “cool.” He was our rock. Our constant. He lived #blacklivesmatter before it became a thing to stand for. For that matter, he stood for #alllivesmatter. And when we all crowded in the hospital room, we all joined together in saying Psalm 23. I’m so glad my mother made us memorize it as children. It comes in handy. When I don’t know what to pray. When I don’t know what end is up. When I just need some Jesus in my life. I pray it. I encourage each of you to write it on your hearts because when the rubber hits the road, it will come back to you. Lyrics to a song…Scripture passages you’ve memorized…the Holy Spirit will give you a nudge or a loud clanging cymbal about where you should go and who you are. Not only that, but whose you are.
Our other lectionary text for today is from Revelation 7:15-17 talking about those who come out of the great ordeal.
“15 For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
17 for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
Tune in to the Shepherd’s voice even when things seem insurmountable and the entire deck is stacked against you. Even when you barely hear the Shepherd’s voice, even when the shepherd’s voice is silent. Keep reading scripture, keep listening, keep doing all you can to connect to the Source of life – God. My prayer for all of you and for me is that God will give us the courage and strength to stand firm in the midst of every adversity, that Christ be our shelter and shield and he wield his sword of truth, and that the Holy Spirit blow over this place igniting anew and afresh our hopes, our dreams, our deepest longings.
You have below your seat a button and a card. The buttons say things like “Praise God,” “You are Loved,” “Joy,” “Be You,” “Shine Your Light,” and “Be Love.” I encourage you to “Be Love” because you are precious and Beloved. The card is a great quote of Frederick Buechner, “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things happen. Don’t be afraid.” The Bible, nor Jesus, nor I – don’t promise the road is going to be easy, but God promises to always restore your soul and Jesus promises to never leave you nor forsake you.
This benediction was used at Old St. Paul’s Church in Baltimore, Maryland in 1692. It still rings true today. “Go placidly among the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms will all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant, they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you will become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither, be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of the spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gently with yourself.
You are a child of the universe, no less than the tress and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God for he is greater than we can ever comprehend. Whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.”
Choose joy. Be joy. Choose love. Be love. Choose hope. Be hope. Amen.
*The classic Dr. Seuss book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” will be read for the graduating seniors.
Blessings on the Journey 