Dave's Diary

Daily Reading: Psalm 8 and Psalm 23

The section of Psalm 23 you’re invited to memorise and meditate on today is v.3.

“³ He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for His name’s sake.”

First commit it to memory … and then let’s meditate on it in light of Psalm 8:1

“¹ Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is Your name in all the earth!”

Consider the fact that, because God is the Creator of all, He is revealed to be majestic and glorious, beautiful and powerful, wise and faithful, by everything that He has made. The vast cosmos and its galaxies, our own Milky Way, planet earth in all the beauty of its oceans, mountains, valleys, rivers, plains, deserts, jungles and glaciers, all reveal the majesty of Who God is – His “Name” as the Psalmist puts it.

Mysteriously, because we are created in the image of God and are appointed to represent God on the earth, we humans carry the most potential to display the glory of God and the majesty of “His Name”. Yet, it’s only potential until each of us follows the LORD as “He leads (us) in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” It is only when you and I walk in fellowship with God, in obedience to His will, and in alignment with His character (i.e. when we follow Him as He leads us in paths of righteousness) that our lives begin to display His majesty accurately.

Following God our Shepherd in the paths of righteousness is for our good and it is for His glory. It is for our human flourishing and for His Name’s sake!

“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.”

Lord, lead me in the paths of Your righteousness today, for Your Name’s sake I pray. Amen.