The Path of Righteousness

The word "righteousness" is a rather long word, seems like a word to describe some super spiritual person, and is just one of those all around frightening religious words that gets thrown around so much we pay it little attention.  The Psalmist made good use of it in that Word we know as the 23rd Psalm when he wrote, "He leadeth me in paths of righteousness."  (Psalm 23:3)  A different and more modern translation other than the traditional King James Version speaks of "right paths" and while those two words get at the meaning of the longer one, it just does not satisfy.    

In this opening section of the Psalm which speaks of how the Good Shepherd actively leads, there is this word which speaks of the way He leads His sheep into the right place.  In this case the right place, if we are to undestand the meaning of  the word "righteousness,"  is a right relationship with the God who created us and sustains us in this life.  It is not enough just to survive, or get by; instead He is about leading in such a way that we live as one approved by Him, or in a right relationship with Him and those around us.    

At the core of "righteousness"  is relationship.  It is important how we live with Him and it is important the way we live with one another.  While some might disagree, there is a right way and a wrong way.  The Shepherd of our Soul seeks to lead us toward that way of life which is not only most pleasing to the Creator God, but speaks to the purpose for which we were conceived and created in the very beginning.