WHAT WE NEED MOST

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." - Psalm 23:3

The twenty-third psalm has always been one of my favorite passages of Scripture.  Like many, I memorized this psalm when I was much younger.  This psalm gives the believer comfort and encouragement. 

The Lord inspired David to pen this psalm.  When David was young, he served as a shepherd, tending his father's flock.  Now, he uses his intimate knowledge of this occupation to describe the Lord's love for His people.  David began the psalm with the precious words, "The Lord is my shepherd."  The remainder of the psalm is written with the imagery of the Lord being our Shepherd. 

In verse 3, David gives us spiritual application that we need to consider.  Like a shepherd, our Lord provides what we need most.  But what do we need most?  Sadly, many think that our greatest need is for more money, possessions or bigger homes.  Such thinking comes from a selfish, materialistic view of life.  Others think that our greatest need is for health or relationships.  Actually, our greatest needs go much deeper than that.  God knows our greatest needs and has sacrificed greatly to see that our greatest needs are met.

1.  THE NEED FOR RESTORATION

Our greatest need is the need for restoration.  Because of sin, mankind has been separated from God.  The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, laid down His life for the sheep.  Through His shed blood, men and women are made new by the power of God.  Our relationship with God is restored.  Through Christ, we enjoy privileges that the world knows nothing of.  We experience communion with Christ.  We have the Holy Spirit residing within.  God's Word leads us.  We feast on the good things of God.  Apart from Christ, there is no way for man to be restored to a place of divine communion.  The sweet fellowship that Adam once had in the garden was lost because of sin.  The second Adam has come and made communion with God a reality for us.  When we repent and believe, we can say, like David, "He restoreth my soul."

2.  THE NEED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Secondly, there is a need for righteousness.  Because of sin, we have no righteousness of our own.  Because of Jesus' death upon the cross, His righteousness has been imputed unto us.  Jesus Christ, the righteous, took our place on Calvary, so that His righteousness could be applied to our case.  Because of His sovereign grace, the Father looks upon us as being righteous, because of Jesus.  The Good Shepherd, "... leadeth me in the paths of righteousness."  Once a sinner has been declared righteous, the Lord works in his life and leads him to walk in the path of righteousness.  Jesus told His disciples, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness."  Furthermore, Jesus said, "Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  When we were lost, we had no desire for righteousness, but after the Good Shepherd found us, He placed a passion within us to walk the path of righteousness and holiness.

It is important to note that we enjoy the benefits of restoration and righteousness, "for his name's sake."  The Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep --- all for the glory of God.  These days, TV evangelists wrongfully put the emphasis upon mankind.  Instead, we need to correctly put the emphasis where it belongs --- on God Himself.  Why did the Good Shepherd leave the ninety-nine and search for the missing sheep?  He did it for His Name's sake.  He sought me, bought me and brought me because of His Name's sake.  The Good Shepherd loves His sheep, not because of their loveliness, but because He is love.  He takes great pleasure in His sheep and has risked everything for their preservation.

The Good Shepherd has done all these things for the glory of God.  That is why we are alive.  We are alive to bring glory to God.  We were saved for the glory of God.  We are kept for the glory of God.  One day, we'll get to heaven for the glory of God.  The Apostle Paul wrote that God has raised us up, "That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

The Good Shepherd has given us what we needed most, at a great cost to Himself.  All glory belongs to Him!