The 23rd Psalm (Part 3)
Written by
Sandra Dean
Good morning!
Joke of the Day:
Why did the hiker bring a map to Sunday School?
Because he heard God would show him the right path!
Let’s continue on with looking at the very famous 23rd Psalm.
Today’s Scripture is
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for His namesake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil
for You are with me.
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil
and my cup overflows.
Surely, goodness, and mercy will follow me
all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
—Psalm 23
What does it mean when David says, “He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake?
First, let’s think about the word guide. A guide is someone who knows the way and helps others get where they need to go. It reminds me of a hunting guide. A hunting guide has explored the area many times. He knows the best trails, the safest places to walk, and how to help the hunters reach their goal without getting lost.
That’s a lot like God! He knows every path we will ever walk because He sees the whole journey.
He lovingly leads us in the right direction.
But notice that God doesn’t just guide us down any path. He guides us in paths of righteousness. Righteousness means doing what is right and pleasing to God.
God always does what is right, and He wants to help us make good choices too. When we obey Him, tell the truth, show kindness, forgive others, and share with people in need, we are walking on His righteous path.
Why does He do this? For His name’s sake.
When people see us living like Jesus, they see how wonderful He is. Our words and actions point others to Him. We belong to Jesus because we have asked Him to be our Lord and Savior, and our lives should show it.
Every time we choose to do what is right, we honor Jesus and help others see His love.
Let’s Pray Together
Father, thank You for being our Guide. You know the right path every time, and You never lead us the wrong way. Help us listen carefully to Your voice, make wise choices, and live in a way that shows others how wonderful You are. We love You! Amen.