ISAIAH 43: 18-19 ^[AMPC] Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

I love Isaiah 43! Open up your Bible and read the entire passage. See how deeply God loves. Remember, while God offered His greatest act of love to everyone who was or ever will be born, His promises are for those who love and obey. It's so important to read everything in context and understand where the promises come from. We can't expect our soul to be restored if we won't lean in and cry out out to God with a humble heart. In other words, as in Psalm 23, He LEADS. He doesn't pull us along. We must follow Him, in His tracks.

PSALM 23: 2-3 ^[TPT] [Adonai] offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where he restores and revives my life (lit. “He causes my soul to return“.)

So much understanding gets lost in translations. That's why I encourage you to read several translations in your study. Even if we knew ancient Hebrew, it would take multiple lifetimes to unpack the depth of the Hebrew language as it is a multi-layered language; every letter containing a meaning and letters within a word forming another meaning, so that one word has a meaning that takes a full sentence to translate. When I consider "He causes my soul to return" I must acknowledge that it is He who must refill me when I feel depleted. Sure, temporary delights, such as a bowl of ice cream may create a short burst of happy feelings, but to truly restore a depleted soul...it must come from Adonai.

The notes in The Passion Translation on Psalm 23 are interesting. First, the word "shepherd" (as in the Lord is my shepherd) has it's root in the Hebrew word, ra'ah, which is the word for "best friend". Wow! How would it change our interactions with God (Adonai) if we thought of Him as a best friend?

Next, verse 3 (as we mentioned above) says that not only does Adonai restore and revive our soul, it says it is done in a particular place: the quiet brook of bliss. According to the notes in The Passion Translation, the Hebrew word used here is menuha, which means, "the waters of a resting place".

How beautiful and amazing to consider that Adonai offers himself as a BEST FRIEND, who desires to revive our soul by taking us to the waters of a resting place! I can just imagine the deep rest that touches even my bones when I come to these waters with my best friend!

PSALM 22:24 ^[TPT] [Yahweh] has not despised my cries of deep despair. He’s my first responder to my sufferings…

ISAIAH 26:3 ^[AMPC] You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

ISAIAH 26:3 ^[NASB] The steadfast of mind Thou wilt keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee.

The word "mind" in Isaiah 26:3 is the Hebrew word "yetser" which is also translated imagination.

ISAIAH 54:10 ^[CJB] For the mountains may leave and the hills be removed, but my grace will never leave you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says Adonai, who has compassion on you.

PSALM 40:4 ^[CJB] How blessed the man who trusts in Adonai and does not look to the arrogant or to those who rely on things that are false.

1 JOHN 14:27 ^[AMP] Peace I leave with you; my perfect peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let my perfect peace (shalom shalom) calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]

JUDGES 6:23-24 ^[GNV] And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee: fear not, thou shalt not die.Then Gideon made an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah Shalom (The Lord of Peace)…

Scripture quotations marked (AMP) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission; Scripture quotations marked (AMPCE) are taken from the Amplified Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.; Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org; Scripture taken from the Modern English Version (MEV). Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.; Scripture quotations marked TPT are from The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017, 2018, 2020 by Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ThePassionTranslation.com; Scriptures marked CJB are taken from the COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE (CJB): Scripture taken from the COMPLETE JEWISH BIBLE, copyright© 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/ jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources Int’l. www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission; Scriptures marked NLT are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION (NLT): Scriptures taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW LIVING TRANSLATION, Copyright©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission; Scriptures marked ESV are taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION (ESV): Scriptures taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION ®Copyright© 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission; Scripture quotations marked (GNV) are taken from the Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press.