“[He] leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul … even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death ….”[1]
This morning, these words have been coursing through me, and for two notable reasons. Although one of those reasons might be obvious, given the mark Hurricane Harvey left, and the destruction Irma promises; but the other reason stems from a conversation I had with an Indian pastor now serving in the Philippines. As I had opportunity to share Psalm 23 with him, he then recounted the incidents in his life, when, fearing physical harm or even death, he had known the restorative grace of Yahweh Elohim, the LORD.
The Hebrew word translated “restores,” שׁוּב , basically means “to return”; likewise, the Greek translation of that Hebrew word also means “to turn” or “to return.” Moreover, that which the LORD restores is “life”; for the word translated “soul” is the Hebrew word, נֶ֫פֶשׁ, which has a much broader meaning than our Western concept of “soul.” That is, because of our Greek heritage, we tend to think of “soul” as an immaterial, ethereal entity; whereas those of the Hebrew mind and tradition view נֶ֫פֶשׁ as incorporating the whole of one’s life and being. To have one’s soul restored, to have one’s life returned includes the returning of physical health and relational wellbeing, as well as spiritual wellbeing.
As I have thought of the verb “to return” in conjunction with “life,” I sense that the Psalmist thought of life being given back – as a gift. So often, when I think of “restoration,” I imagine a return to an original state: for instance, a restored car or Victorian home might look as it did when first built. And yet, with thought, I recognize that the newly restored is not what it was when new. It cannot be. Thus, as I think of Houston, I am convinced that life for those who have lived there will never be the same. It won’t necessarily be worse – in fact, it might be better – but a restored life will be lived in the light of Harvey’s wake.
With the Psalmist, I do believe that the God of creation is continually returning life – and such the Resurrection proclaims – but from my very human perspective, a turning has occurred, whereby a demarcation or even a gulf exists between what was and what will be. The good news is that He restores, and our world, our lives need His restorative, returning touch.
Faithfully,
Stan
[1] Cf. Psalm 23:2-4.