(Third in the sermon series on Psalm 23 for Lent 2025)

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Psalm 23 is familiar territory for many of us, yet each verse offers fresh insight, especially as we take time during Lent to reflect deeply. Today we focus specifically on one profound phrase: "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." (Psalm 23:3)

Quickly reviewing the context helps us appreciate this line even more. David, himself a shepherd, intimately understood what it meant to care for sheep. When he declares, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want," it's deeply personal—a proclamation of trust and dependence. He knows God provides rest, nourishment, and restoration, enabling us to lie down peacefully and safely. Sheep won’t lie down if they’re hungry or afraid; thus, David emphasizes that God meets both our physical and emotional needs, calming our anxieties and providing spiritual nourishment. Furthermore, God gently "leads us beside still waters," illustrating His desire for us to experience true peace—peace that refreshes and sustains our souls.

But today’s focus, "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake," reveals something particularly powerful about our relationship with God. Let’s unpack this carefully.

First, "He leads me." Notice that God does not push or coerce us; He gently guides. The Hebrew word used here, "nachah," means "to guide" rather than "to force." Life can feel overwhelming, like navigating unfamiliar terrain, full of complexities and uncertainties. Just as you would hire a skilled guide if you had to journey through a dense and dangerous jungle, God offers to guide us safely through life's wilderness. Our role is simply to listen, trust, and follow.

Second, God guides us specifically "in paths of righteousness." The word "righteousness" is rich and often misunderstood. In contemporary usage, righteousness can mistakenly become about merely following rules or moral perfection. However, biblical righteousness goes far deeper. It's fundamentally relational, rooted in faith and trust in God. Consider Abraham: despite his imperfections and failures, Scripture declares him righteous because he believed God (Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:9). Righteousness in the biblical sense is not just about behavior; it's about relationship—being rightly connected to God and aligning our lives with His ways and purposes.

These paths of righteousness, then, are paths of trust, faith, and alignment with God’s heart. They lead us into deeper intimacy with Him. God desires this closeness with us, guiding us not simply to make us morally upright but to draw us nearer to Himself, enriching our relationship.

Lastly, why does God guide us this way? It’s "for His name’s sake." In the Bible, a person's name captures their identity, essence, and character. God leads us along paths of righteousness because this aligns perfectly with His nature—He is loving, faithful, and trustworthy. He wants us to experience the depth of His goodness and faithfulness, reflecting His character through our lives. C.S. Lewis articulated this beautifully, saying, "God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from Himself because it is not there."

Sometimes, paths of righteousness are challenging. They might include loving enemies, offering forgiveness, or choosing humility and grace when everything within us wants to retaliate. Yet, these paths, though difficult, keep our hearts tethered to God’s grace and truth, continually shaping us into His likeness.

There's great freedom and joy in realizing this journey doesn’t rely solely on our strength or ability. We don’t follow these paths just because we're obligated or fearful of judgment. Instead, we trust and follow because we've come to know and love our Shepherd, believing wholeheartedly that He desires our ultimate good. He guides us lovingly because that is precisely who He is.

So during this Lenten season, let’s embrace this truth afresh: God leads us gently, intentionally, and faithfully in paths of righteousness—not because we’ve earned it, but because of His profound love and faithfulness. Rest in the assurance that His paths always lead to deeper peace, richer joy, and closer communion with Him. This is not only our hope but also our profound, daily reality in Christ.