Albert Barnes Commentary Psalms 23:3

"He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name`s sake." — Psalms 23:3 (ASV)

He leads me beside the still waters - Margin, “waters of quietness.” These are not stagnant waters, but waters that are not tempestuous and stormy. They are waters so calm, gentle, and still as to suggest the idea of repose, and such as prompt to repose. As applied to the people of God, this denotes the calmness, the peace, and the repose of the soul, when salvation flows like a gently running stream, when there is no apprehension of want, and when the heart is at peace with God.

He restores my soul - Literally, “He causes my life to return.” DeWette, “He quickens me,” or causes me to live. The word “soul” here means life or spirit, not the soul in the strict sense in which the term is now used. It refers to the spirit when exhausted, weary, or sad; the meaning is that God quickens or vivifies the spirit when it is thus exhausted. The reference is not to the soul as wandering or backsliding from God, but to the life or spirit as exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, and worn down with care and toil. The heart, thus exhausted, He reanimates. He brings back its vigor. He encourages it, excites it to new effort, and fills it with new joy.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness - This means in right paths or right ways. He conducts me in the straight path that leads to Himself; He does not permit me to wander in ways that would lead to ruin. In reference to His people, it is true:

1. He leads them in the path by which they become righteous, or by which they are “justified” before Him; and
2. He leads them in the way of “uprightness” and “truth.” He guides them in the way to heaven; His constant care is shown so that they may walk in that path.

For his name’s sake - This means for His own sake, or that His name may be honored. It is not primarily on their account; it is not solely that they may be saved. It is that He may be honored:

1. In their being saved at all;
2. In the manner in which it is done;
3. In the influence of their whole life, under His guidance, as making known His own character and perfections.

(Isaiah 48:9; Isaiah 66:5; Jeremiah 14:7).

The feeling expressed in this verse is that of confidence in God—an assurance that He would always lead His people in the path in which they should go.

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This He will always do if people will follow the directions of His word, the teachings of His Spirit, and the guidance of His providence.

No one who submits to Him in this way will ever go astray!