[Unboxing Psalm 23: Treasures for Every Believer] Paths of RighteousnessНамуна

Paths of Righteousness for His Name’s Sake

After “He restores my soul,” David adds that the great Shepherd leads us “in paths of righteousness.” He cares for us extensively. God causes the situation to be such that I can rest. If I will rest, if I'll actually lay down, He leads me into green pastures. If I will partake of them, He takes me to where there's water. If I will drink, He restores me. If I will allow Him to restore me, He leads me in paths of righteousness—if I will follow. God leads us only if we are willing to follow.

What are paths of righteousness? The Hebrew terms mean “the right path” or “paths that are right,” referring to a “clearly marked or well-defined trail," one the Shepherd knows well. Only He knows which is the right path. Sheep, as everyone knows, are stubborn and self-willed creatures. If left to themselves, they will almost invariably wander off in the direction of their own choosing. An experienced shepherd tries to offset this by going ahead of his sheep and making himself as visible as possible.

The prophet Isaiah says that we are like sheep. We all turn our own way. Romans says we do not follow after God. At the end of Judges 21:25, it says, “Everyone did what was right in [their] own eyes.” Sheep can roll downhill to their deaths. Sheep better not wander off the path, and yet sheep will if they're not led. We do what we want all the time. We sin often.

Yet Isaiah also says that the suffering Servant, our Shepherd, took on our sin. We are not righteous, but the Lord imputes His righteousness on to us. By His death, Jesus has restored us to a right relationship with God. We must follow and listen to Him to be on the path of righteousness.

David completes the statement with, “for His name’s sake.” The shepherd acts this way for the sake of His reputation. In sheep country, the shepherd is known by how well he cares for the sheep. If they are well-fed, well-cared-for, they reflect his care. Do we reflect the care of our Shepherd? Do we look like we’ve been neglected, unkept, ill-fed. With Him, I lack nothing. In the great Shepherd, I am at peace. In Christ, we lack nothing. We are restored. We are made righteous. We get the privilege of reflecting to the world how well-cared for we are by our Shepherd.

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