In Right Paths

Where do you find comfort? For me, it is in my home especially with my family. Comfort is hard to come by when Amy and the kids go to Amy’s parents for a couple days. I may sleep well but there is an unease to me when they are away. But, when they return, my comfort returns as normalcy is back in the house. We are all together and the craziness returns.

That craziness is part of life now with the three kids running around. Sometimes it is infuriating to deal with but most of the time it just reminds me that everyone is around. I must admit, because I know Amy would tell you if you asked, I do need time away from the crazies in the house but my comfort returns when we are all getting ready for bed. Comfort is something that brings peace, removes the stress, and makes us happy.

I could go on and on about things that bring me comfort but the Amy and the kids are way above any of them. I’m sure if I asked you could tell me a number of things that bring you comfort. Crazy idea, type in the comments some things that bring you comfort. I will try to keep up with them as I go through the sermon. But, what does comfort have to do have to do with our sermon title In Right Paths and ? Well lets turn to and read the words of King David in this well known Psalm.

Psalm 23 NRSV

A Psalm of David. 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 leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I 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; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

The first part of verse 3 says “He restores my soul.” That is a very comforting statement. I mean think about that, being restored. The psalmist doesn’t say only a part is restored but says God restores our soul. I think in order to fully understand this we have to exam soul in this context. In his explanatory notes on the Old Testament, Wesley says this about Restoreth - “He bringeth back from its errors and wandering.” The psalmist is saying that God not just makes his soul whole but also brings it back from the errors or sins which he has committed. God makes the soul whole and clean all at the same time.

That in its self is comforting enough. To know that our God is great enough and big enough to bring us back and make us whole in his sight is and should be a very comforting feeling. We should find a lot of hope, just in those words. It is not only hope that we find in these words but it is also a call to seek repentance for our sins. If we desire the hope of being made whole we must first seek the forgiveness of God and receive that forgiveness. There is enough there to do a whole sermon on but then we wouldn’t have an opportunity to talk about In Right Paths. So, what does “In Right Paths” mean?

That is a very good question. It is easy to see where the title came from within the scripture. Just after “restores my soul” in verse 3 the Psalmist says “He leads me in right paths.” The first part of this statement is pretty obvious, “He leads me.” God is the he and God is leading or directing the psalmist. But, what are right paths? Is it just the paths we travel? Does that mean when someone does something bad, they are being led by God? Does that mean God leads us to a place to get the coronavirus?

I’m hoping you are saying no to the latter two ideas. Doing bad things is part of free will. We have the option to follow God’s lead or to go our own way. Catching the virus known as coronavirus is based on being around someone who is carrying it. God does not desire for us to be sick, so I do not believe God would lead us into an unhealthy environment. This section is not saying that God forces us to go down certain paths, we have the choice.

When the psalmist says “right paths”, he is saying correct paths. You know the paths that we take in order to fulfill God’s Will. God leads us down those paths for our good and the good of the Kingdom. These paths give us opportunity to call out to others to follow God’s direction. These paths give us opportunity to offer hope to those in need of hope. He will guide us through the tough places.

God is the shepherd in our lives. Picture a shepherd and their sheep. The shepherd leads the sheep in and out of good pastures. The shepherd ensures the sheep are safe from danger. The shepherd keeps them on the narrow path away from the sharp cliffs. Does the shepherd do this with just their hands and words? No. The shepherd uses a crook. A staff that has a hook at the end. With this staff the shepherd can reach out and grab a sheep before they fall off the cliff. But the straight part of the crook can be used to fend off the those things trying to attack the sheep. The job of a shepherd is a 24 hour a day job.

This is our God. God is the shepherd that protects each of us and keeps us going down the right paths if we listen. God comforts us in our times of need. God calms our anxieties during the unknown.

Even with all of this the grace that God offers is not limited to just those who follow the right paths. No, God’s grace is extended to all even those that we least expect it to be extended to, our enemies. The psalmist tells us that God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. This is not a punishment but a reminder that God’s grace is extended to all and God is the only one that knows each persons heart. There will be people at our tables that we least expect because God is a God of redemption not punishment.

Friends, during this time we need listen to God and follow him as he leads us down right paths. Let him guide us as we travel. Now, thinking of it, the Discipleship Ministries commentary mentioned a great spiritual called, Guide My Feet, I have put a Youtube link for ya’ll to hear the song. Let God guide your feet and receive the same grace that all of God’s creation receives.