Our meditation today focuses on the last two lines of verse 3 of Psalm 23. Firstly, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness”. Alistair Begg, the senior pastor of Cleveland’s Parkside Church and an excellent expositor of God’s Word, with a lovely sense of humour, once made the comment: “The Lord made me a pastor so that I can go to Church”! I can so identify with that – I was a mischievous and naughty youngster. Had it not been for God changing my heart I shudder to think where I would have been today.
The primary job of the shepherd in pasturing his flock is to lead the sheep in the right way to food and water, and to fend off predators. The shepherd is responsible for the welfare and safety of the sheep. The word “paths” refers to one’s “course of conduct.” The word for “righteousness” in the original language means “adhering to moral standards like honesty, justice, and uprightness.” Like a shepherd guides his sheep along the right way, God effectively leads His people on the correct path by His Word and through the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Psalm 119:105 says: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path”. The “paths of righteousness” depict the journey that leads to eternal life. Believers are made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast”. By faith, we enter into a relationship with the one true God through Jesus Christ, His Son.
Sheep are known to stray from the path, and so are Christians. Yet, even if a believer falls into sin, as David did with Bathsheba, the Lord is committed to leading him back to the right path. The Good Shepherd goes after the one lost sheep (Luke 15:1–7). The Lord shows us our wandering ways so that we can repent and have our souls restored. There is nothing quite as liberating as having a good conscience before God. 1 John 1:19 is so important and encouraging.! “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.
The disciple, Peter, is an excellent example of a straying follower who was pursued by the Good Shepherd. After he fell, Peter, like David, was forgiven and restored by the Lord. Notice his own words in 1 Peter 2:24: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His stripes you are healed.” Verse 25: “For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls”.
Secondly, ”For His name’s sake” – God leads us in paths of righteousness because it brings Honour and Glory to His name, Our Righteous Shepherd!!
With much Christian love,
Anton van Stormbroek