All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
—Psalm 25:10
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
—Psalm 86:9-11
In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
—Proverbs 12:28
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
—Romans 5:8
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
—2 Corinthians 8:9
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
—Ephesians 5:1-2
Paul understood legalism and trusting in one's own accomplishments. And he understood that they don't work. But only after He met Jesus.
The “paths of righteousness” in David's “my Shepherd” song are good paths, right paths, and paths of life. And more. Because they are not just the paths that the Lord taught about or commanded. They are His paths. And not just because they belong to Him.
They are the paths on which He walked. They are the paths that reflect and reveal His character.
Saul of Tarsus had stumbled into a path that veered from the steadfast love of the Lord, that swerved into a path that breathed threats and murder instead of breathing peace and life. But, by grace, the Lord stopped Saul in his tracks.
By grace, Saul's eyes were opened. His learning became an instrument in the hands of the Lord instead of an accomplishment of his own. He became an apostle to the Gentiles instead of a barrier to their inclusion.
Through word and pen and example, he pleaded for both Gentiles and Jews to set aside division and to join him in walking the Lord's path of steadfast love and faithfulness.
His Paths
All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
—Psalm 25:10
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
—Psalm 86:9-11
In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.
—Proverbs 12:28
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
—Romans 5:8
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
—2 Corinthians 8:9
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
—Ephesians 5:1-2
Paul understood legalism and trusting in one's own accomplishments. And he understood that they don't work. But only after He met Jesus.
The “paths of righteousness” in David's “my Shepherd” song are good paths, right paths, and paths of life. And more. Because they are not just the paths that the Lord taught about or commanded. They are His paths. And not just because they belong to Him.
They are the paths on which He walked. They are the paths that reflect and reveal His character.
Saul of Tarsus had stumbled into a path that veered from the steadfast love of the Lord, that swerved into a path that breathed threats and murder instead of breathing peace and life. But, by grace, the Lord stopped Saul in his tracks.
By grace, Saul's eyes were opened. His learning became an instrument in the hands of the Lord instead of an accomplishment of his own. He became an apostle to the Gentiles instead of a barrier to their inclusion.
Through word and pen and example, he pleaded for both Gentiles and Jews to set aside division and to join him in walking the Lord's path of steadfast love and faithfulness.