Social Distancing He Guides Me in Paths of Righteousness

Social Distancing

He Guides Me in Paths of Righteousness

The pandemic has separated us; the racial tension has separated us

Jesus came to break down the racial divisions

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility… Ephesians 2:14

God so loved the world and so should we

The only way we can find equality for all people

Is to stay in the path of righteousness

Although the path seems clear to us, we still need the Good Shepherd to guide us

Emotions are high and people are running to extremes

Keep your eyes on Jesus the Way, the Truth and the Life

Stay “IN” the path  

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalms 23:3

He Guides Me in Paths of Righteousness

Maybe the key word in Psalms 23:3

is the little word “in”…

“In the path”

The word Path in Hebrew

is ma’ gal (mah-gawl’).

It is from the word ‘agol (aw-gole’) from an

unused root meaning to revolve, circular.

So ma’ gal (mah-gawl’) means

a track also a rampart (as circular).

To a shepherd, a path would be ground

beaten down by animals or others.

A way easier than the surroundings

to the right or left.

The path may be unfamiliar to you, but

has been well traveled before, by others.

A path generally is not a straight line,

(the shortest distance between two points).

A path generally will follow the terrain,

along rivers around mountains or obstacles.

This path will take you somewhere

but always get you back home.

David who wrote Psalms 23,

was a shepherd, but also a king.

As a king, he would look at the

definition of ma’gal as a “rampart”.

 

A rampart is a defensive wall of a castle

or walled city, having a broad top with

 a walkway and typically a stone parapet.

(Parapet, is a low protective wall along

the edge of a roof, bridge, or balcony.)

This path would have been

constructed above the city.

This path has circular meaning…

 If you stay on this path, you will

always end up where you started.

This path had the advantage of seeing what

was outside the city and inside the city.

So if the key word is “in”.

 What does “He guides me in

paths of righteousness” look like?

First the path has a name “Righteousness”.

Next the guide who leads will be in the path.

In the path is God.

The path has been well traveled

by others, it is not new.

But beware all paths do

not lead to Righteousness…

"Enter through the narrow gate.

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that

 leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,

and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

The path has a destination and

will always take you to it.

The Righteousness path will always

lead to life even though it may take you

through the valley of the shadow of death.

Righteousness has a right and a left.

  

This does not mean righteous is in the center,

or a compromise of the right and left.

The path of Righteousness has a purpose…

“For his name's sake” 

Jesus the Good Shepherd is the

Way, the Truth and the Life.

 John 14:6

If you are on this path, you will

stay on the path of Righteousness for the

reputation of the Good Shepherd, Jesus. 

With the protest and riots taking place in America…

We need to be guided in the path of Righteousness.

Don’t be swayed to get outside

the path or make the path wider.

The pandemic has separated

us; the riots have separated us.

Jesus came to break down the racial divisions…

For he himself is our peace,

who has made the two one and

has destroyed the barrier,

the dividing wall of hostility…

Ephesians 2:14

God so loved the world

and so should we.

The only way we can find equality

for all people is to stay…

 In the path of righteousness.

Although the path seems clear to us…

 We still need the Good Shepherd to guide us.

Emotions are high and people

are running to extremes.

Keep your eyes on Jesus the

Way, the Truth and the Life.

Stay “IN” the path

 

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake. Psalms 23:3

Scripture Reading

Psalms 23:1  NIV

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

4 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.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.