Put all sorrow's wounds into His hand',

Back to Treasures from J.R. Miller

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"He restores my soul." Psalm 23:3

In several ways does the shepherd restore his sheep. If one wanders away, he goes out after it, and seeks it until he finds it, restoring it to the shelter of the fold. If one faints and grows sick by the way, in the hard journey or the burning heat — the shepherd does not leave it to die, but takes it up in his arms, and carries it home, restoring it to the fold. If a sheep is hurt, torn by a wild beast or injured by accident — the shepherd tends its wounds until they are healed.

All this suggests how our Good Shepherd restores our souls. Sometimes we wander away. It is very easy to drift off from Christ. The drifting is often unconscious — we do not realize that we are losing our first love — and little by little, we are far off from Christ. Perhaps it is a cherished sin which eats out our heart-life. Or perhaps it is a worldly companionship which draws us away, loosening the bonds which bound us to Christ. Sometimes it is an absorbing business which leaves no room for God. Or it may be thecares of this world which choke the Word and quench the Spirit. We often need to have our soul restored, quickened, revived — or we would never get safely home, through this evil world.

Then, what soul is not sometimes hurt, wounded, torn — by the wild beasts of temptation? Sin is a fearful thing. It wounds the soul — and no hand but Christ's can restore it. But if we put our hurt life into His hand, He will give healing. What millions of sin's wounding  — has our Good Shepherd cured!

Then, when sorrow has left the heart broken, it is only the Good Shepherd who can restore it. He is a most skilful physician. We may put all sorrow's wounds into His hand. He is most gentle, and His hand is infinitely skilful. He is a wonderful comforter. No human hand can heal a heart that is bruised — but the hand of Jesus has infinite delicacy and skill. 

"He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3