He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil;
for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
– Psalm 23 – King David of Judah
Being guided along right paths is critical to a successful, blessed and fruitful life, isn’t it? We have been told of all those folks who have chosen “the wrong path”, coined the “road to perdition.” In an interesting psychological trick, though, we rarely see them as ourselves.
We may also read these words and start looking for the magical right path to be led to as mindless and blind sheep. Hence we develop the idea of “blind faith”.
For many years I read this verse as that quest to find the right single path. Only later did I realize that it says: “He guides me in right paths”.
Two things were new, that there must be a series of “paths” or a number of options in “paths”, and that we are guided “in” them, not before them or after them.
This changes everything, because it now becomes more interesting and active. We actually walk in the path as we find leading, and the paths apparently move and change. And there is not necessarily one correct one at all. It depends on what happens along the way. It is not fixed, but fluid and dynamic.
And now the last part makes even more sense: “With your rod and your staff that give me courage.” With this protective guide who cares for us and walks with us, we learn to receive and develop courage.
And trust me. If there is one thing that we need in this life, it is courage!
