Psalm 32:8 (NIV) I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NKJV) 5 “ Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “ That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
My ladies and I are reading "Quiet Confidence for a Woman's Heart" by Elizabeth George. This is a study of Psalm 23. In Chapter 6 Elizabeth George looks at Psalm 23:3b - "He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake".
Chapter 6 talks about paths of righteousness. Let’s look at the word “paths”. When I think of a path, I think of one that is well worn by constant use by foot or bicycle. The grass has been beaten down to just a dirt passage. As you are out, you will probably notice paths. In Chapter 1, we read that a characteristic of Shepherd is to lead. The paths in Psalm 23:3b are paths of righteousness. Paths of Righteousness mean they are stiff or straight paths.
Elizabeth George says “but we’re the righteous saints of a righteous God! And He makes sure we walk rightly following Him in integrity. And He is faithful to tell us in His Word exactly what those paths are. He clearly spells out what He considers right and wrong … what He’s determined is in and out … what He brands as good and evil … As the Shepherd whose responsibility is to lead us, He plainly defines the paths of righteousness and guides us there.”
Another name of God is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, Jehovah our Righteousness. Jehovah-Tsidkinu first appears in Jeremiah 23:5-6. After God dealt with His sinning people, He would “produce a Righteous Branch (Jehovah-Tsidkenu), that Righteous Branch of David we now know as the Messiah, Jesus Christ.”
Are there areas in your life that you got off track where you are wandering off His paths of righteousness? Are you repeatedly making choices of disobedience? “Let’s leave the ruts of bad habits and the paths of sin and rush to the side (and safety!) of God’s guidance.”
The last part of verse 3 says “for His name’s sake”, to bring glory to Him “for His sake, He leads us to do what is right. Why? Because if we, His sheep, sin and stray, we tarnish His reputation. So for the sake of His own name, as well as for our good, He points us in the right direction.”
Knowing this, we must ask ourselves if our following Him is bringing glory to His name. Are we following in those paths of righteousness?
We are led by our Shepherd in those paths of righteousness by reading His Word and by praying.
Here are two thought provoking questions the author asks at the end of Chapter 6. Take a moment and ask yourself these questions:
1. Evaluate “the path” of your life. Are you walking in God’s stiff and straight path of righteousness?
2. Are there any areas where you strayed off the path of righteousness?
Let’s pray. Father, we thank You that as our Great Shepherd You lead us. You lead us in the paths of righteousness which are stiff and straight. Father, if anyone reading this is off Your path of righteousness or is making choices of disobedience, I ask that You will guide them out of those bad ruts and back on Your path of righteousness. We thank You for leading us on Your paths of righteousness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Blessings,
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