What Are the “Paths of Righteousness”?
“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3).
Yesterday, I shared how God restored our souls, but today, I will share on the “paths of righteousness.”
God leading us to paths of righteousness can easily be misunderstood to mean our behavior and how we should conduct our lives. God isn’t talking about our behavior in this verse, and I am not attempting to diminish the importance of godly character. However, “paths of righteousness” is far more than how we walk. It is about where we are walking.
If you were to go to Israel in a rural area and observe a hill or mountain, you would see what looks like a footpath going along the side with a slight angle upward. Then the path takes a U-turn and travels back across the hillside slightly upward again. This is repeated over and over again until you arrive at the top. Shepherds, since biblical times, have called these trails “paths of righteousness.” Those who lived in those areas would readily know what that verse was referring to. So how does that help us today? So glad you asked!
Those trials or footpaths called paths of righteousness were well-worn, easy to see, and free from obstacles and obstructions that would hinder hikers on their journey. It made the journey easier and more enjoyable to travel because it took less wear and tear on the body than trying to climb upward through a rocky or brush-filled hillside. Following the paths of righteousness shows us the way forward has already been prepared, and the path itself leads us to our destination. We don’t need a compass, GPS, etc. All we need to do is stay on the path, and we will arrive. When we allow God to restore our souls, it opens our eyes to the steps we must take to reach our goals. This is a path of righteousness, a path already prepared for our journey.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand” (Psalm 37:23-24).
In biblical times, shepherds had their sheep follow these paths because, along the way, there would be food for them to graze on while they moved upward. The path provided for the sheep as they followed the shepherd. Lush green grass and water were found next to the path. Not only did the path lead to where the sheep were headed, but it also provided sustenance and nourishment along the journey.
For us today, the path of righteousness isn’t our behavior but our journey of faith as we trust our Shepherd, Jesus. He restores our souls with joy unspeakable and a heart at perfect peace with Him. This confidence in Him gives us the strength to keep moving forward in life confident God is with us and leading us to the destination He has for us.
The last phrase in verse 23 says “for His name’s sake.” God restores our emotions and leads us down paths that ultimately bring glory to Jesus from those who are observing our lives.
