Psalm 23:1-3
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Continuing with this theme from yesterday, in providing this provision and rest the psalmist declares, "He refreshes my soul". The word for soul in Hebrew has many different senses and can be difficult to translate into English at times. The best Hebrew lexicon offers nine different possible translations of the word into English. The meaning here is likely the soul as the general life of the person. As Dallas Willard says, "The soul is that aspect of your whole being that correlates, integrates and enlivens everything going on in the various dimensions of the self. The soul is the life center of the human being." (Found in Ortberg's book listed below p. 43) The soul, in this sense, is very needy. It is always longing for something to satisfy it, to be in total harmony within the person and God himself. The psalmist declares here that his Shepherd satisfies his needy soul by giving provision, safety and rest.
He finishes verse 3 by saying, "He leads me along the right paths for his name's sake." Again we see the theme of God's leadership and his direction. This could be translated "paths of righteousness" as well. Whichever translation is used the meaning is essentially the same. The phrase is a double entendre. It's most basic literal meaning is of the "safe path" or "the easy way". But it almost always carries theological overtones of obedience to God's law as the safe path. The LORD leads us by giving us his laws. When we follow them we are walking in the "safe path".
The psalmist says he does this, "for his name's sake." This is describing God's motivation for leading his sheep. It is for his glory and praise that he does so. It is also an expression of God's character. "Name" in Hebrew culture is much more than a designation of identity. It carries with it the character of the individual. The people of Israel bear God's name so the psalmist is declaring that God will lead them and remain faithful to them as a function of his character. It is in God's character, implied by his name, to give them provision, protection and direction, so the psalmist can trust that God will do so for him.