NEPHESH

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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In our next section of Psalm 23 we encounter one of my favorite Hebrew words. This word is used to describe all aspects of what makes a person a person. 

In Psalm 23:3, we hear that the Lord refreshes or restores the “soul” of those who belong to the Great Shepherd. We can hear that idea as we read Psalm 23 again…

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. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23:1-6 NIV11)

Favorite

In verse three we hear that the Lord, “refreshes my soul”. This is probably my favorite point to be made in this teaching. To understand my enthusiasm with this line I need to share with you… wait for it… some Hebrew words. 

Nephesh

The word used in Hebrew that is translated as “soul” is that of, נֶפֶשׁ – Nephesh. 

Nephesh is a heavy lifter in Hebrew. It is a special word that is used to describe your whole being. In Western thought, we like to separate everything into its constituent parts. We speak about our body, mind, and soul, and talk about how each component works in a pseudo-independent fashion. 

We actually treat these concepts of the self as if they were things that existed on their own out in the real world. We talk about treating the body or the mind apart from one another, not at all seeing that they are actually just two words that describe the same element. 

Hebrew

The Hebrew thinker does not do this. In Hebrew, Nephesh includes your physical state, your consciousness, your self, your spirit, as well as your soul.

This is a different way of speaking to what we are, how we were created. To the Hebrew, we were created in the IMAGE of God and this image is all encompassing. Nephesh is understood as a way to speak about the whole self. 

Atomized

Personally, I love this view of the self, much more than the atomized and separated self that we have received from Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle or like the Germanic thinkers, 

Sigmund Freud and Frederic Niche. 

•   There is no ego, id and superego in the Hebrew mind. 
•   There is no unconscious self at war with the conscious self for the Hebrew. 
•   Instead, there is ONLY YOU, your Nephesh.

Restores

So… when we hear that the Lord restores our souls, what we need to hear is that the Lord restores our whole self, our Nephesh.

As we have heard in the last two devotionals, we know that the Lord provides for his people as he, “makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” As the Lord compels us to stop and rest in the good times of life, he also provides us the gift of his physical care and concern. 

To receive the restoration of the Lord is all encompassing. We must be willing to submit our physical nature to the Lord in the same way that we typically consider submitting our spiritual nature. 

•   What needs are you facing today that are disturbing your peace?
•   How can the Lord provide you with his refreshment and restoration today?
•   Are you taking care of your physical body as well as your mental and spiritual health?

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, as my Great Shepherd, I see that you desire to restore and refresh more of me that I can even understand. You desire to work in me today, helping me find peace in times of chaos. I need your help and I submit to your loving care. 

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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