Paths of Righteousness

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ²He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ³He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. ⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. ⁵You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. - Psalm 23

Most of us are quite familiar with the 23rd Psalm, a beautiful description of how the Lord shepherds His people.

Oh, but I’ve made a small mistake here, because throughout this poem, the psalmist David talks about himself and God. He doesn’t mention his family, his tribe, or the nation of Israel. While much of Scripture addresses communities like Israel and the church, Psalm 23 is personal. This reminds us that God wants each of us to know Him. He’s concerned about you.

Yet what caught my eye isn’t the repeated use of the singular in this psalm; it’s David’s use of the plural in verse 3 when he refers to “paths of righteousness.” Why “paths,” isn’t one enough?

I don’t know what the Holy Spirit might tell you, but here are a couple of options to consider.

First, life is neither simple nor smooth. In our journey, the Lord Jesus leads us along unexpected routes. We seldom travel a straight line; I’ve found that following Christ has many twists and turns. We walk one way for a while, then Jesus redirects us. Now we’re heading along a different road.

Sometimes we relish these changes, but other times, we gripe. Yet Jesus our Good Shepherd knows what He’s doing, so we can trust Him.

Second, there are situations in our lives when the Lord allows us to choose. Let’s say that Jesus the Shepherd wants to lead His sheep to a fresh field that’s a mile away. The field is His main goal for us, so how we get there is less of His concern. If we find one path too difficult to traverse, He’ll move us to another one. And along the way, we learn about Him as He talks to us. When we walk with Jesus, our confidence in Him grows, our trust in Him deepens, and we enjoy His presence. Even times of silence are quiet and peaceful.

Is there a third option I didn’t include? Probably so!

But what characterizes the paths our lives take is “righteousness.” However we interpret Christ’s shepherding ministry, we know that it’s right, proper, and good.

A word dropped into my heart about how to understand righteous paths, and that word is “alignment.” The paths Jesus leads us on correspond with the terrain, our capabilities, and His will. There’s no disharmony or stress.

Nothing’s out of whack!

And why does Jesus do this?

“For His name’s sake.”

He guides us for our good and His glory. These aren’t in conflict with each other. How the Lord treats us and cares for us reveals His character. And we get what we need because He loves us.

Whatever path you’re on now, make sure you’re following Jesus. The roads will change; over time, you’ll jump from one to another. But Christ will never change.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” - Hebrews 13:8

Stay with Him!

(Bible verses are from the ESV.)

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