“He leads (guides) me in paths of righteousness” Verse 3. This shepherds Psalm has a counterpart in the New Testament where in John 10 we are introduced to Jesus the good shepherd; in verses 3-4 we read “…he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out…and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.” As He leads the way before us He also provides a rearguard to follow behind us and if we somehow step aside from His path, Isaiah 30:21 promises “Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it, Whenever you turn to the right hand, Or whenever you turn to the left.” Oh, what a wonderful Father/Shepherd we have in our God and savior who is there to guide us at every turn, and gently correct us if we wonder off to the side of the road! We’ll see more about this later in the Psalm. Notice now that His leading is “in the paths of righteousness”, “teaching us that denying (to contradict, disavow, reject, and abnegate) ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” Titus 2:12. (Fleshly/worldly cravings may still arise but we are told to deny them!) We are not left to navigate this path alone, He is there to guide and help us every step of the way if we will listen to and follow the voice of His word through the teaching of the Holy Spirit whom He has sent as He promised in John 14:26, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” As we live a fasted life before Him Isaiah 58:11 says, “The Lord will guide you continually…” God’s leading and correction are signs that we belong to Him; Hebrews 12:5-6 says “do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens; And scourges every son whom He receives.”
His way
By Rose Hill
God is speaking; I hear His voice,
To follow His way is my choice.
He will show me the way to take,
For His promises He won’t break.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.