Psalm 23.3b
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Psalm 23:3 (MSG)
3 you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.
Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
3 He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
He puts me on a track that is right- that is His reputation.- Psalm 23.3b
The Joel Version.
Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
He Leads- to take or guide somewhere....
paths- a course of conduct....
righteousness- adherence to what is required according to a standard, for example, a moral standard.
name- the general estimation and recognition of a person; understood in regard to their name.... a reputation.
He Leads
He Leads
The psalmist had prayed for this. Look at Psalm 5.8
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me.
He Leads On A Path
He Leads On A Path
What path would the shepherd lead his sheep on?
You need only look at the Psalm itself… it parallels your and my life. Look again at Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads 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 mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
He Leads On A Path To His Standard
He Leads On A Path To His Standard
what is God’s standard- and where is His standard?
What is God’s standard? Let’s look for a minute at Ephesians 4.7-8
7 But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”
If you are driving somewhere, and you turn left when you should have continued straight- how far must you go back to get where you need to be?
Consider that because of sin, we were on the wrong path to begin with- so getting back to where we were instead of where we should be are 2 different things.
We can put all of our effort into getting back to where we were- and never arrive at God’s intention for us. And usually when we tryin our won effort ant power to get there we either overshoot or undershoot our destinations- that’s why He does it on the cross for us. That’s called grace.
When Paul talks about the “measure of Christ’s gift” he is talking about God’s grace- it is as much as it takes to put us back right with Him- not with where we were.....
It is his standard, not ours- and his standard is righteousness- His rightwousness.
He Leads On A Path To His Standard
He Leads On A Path To His Standard
Why?
Because that’s who He is.
He Leads On A Path To His Standard - His Own Reputation
He Leads On A Path To His Standard - His Own Reputation
God’s Reputation
God’s Reputation
Look at this passage from the Psalms, that tells us who the Psalmist had learned that Yahweh is.... what is God’s reputation.
8 Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.
9 Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord! I have fled to you for refuge.
10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
Consistent love
trustworthy
Knows the way
Delivers from enemies
A refuge
Teacher
Good Spirit
He Leads On A Path To His Standard - His Own Reputation
He Leads On A Path To His Standard - His Own Reputation
16 And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.
Why then, does the Psalmist say the following in Psalm 23.3b
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
The answer is the bottom line:
The Christian Destination Is Jesus’ Reputation
The Christian Destination Is Jesus’ Reputation
What is God’s reputation? It is not a ruler or a tape measure or a weight of measure… it is a person. Jesus Christ
The Christian Destination Is Jesus’ Reputation
1 John 3.2.
Romans 8.29.
1 Corinthians 15.49.
2 Corinthians 3.18.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.
18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
The Christian Destination Is Jesus’ Reputation
The Christian Destination Is Jesus’ Reputation