God leads like a good shepherd. A good shepherd calls to his sheep and leads them out of the sheep pen. He calls them by name, one by one he knows them. He has plans for their well-being. He knows their needs. He knows their wants. He knows safe paths to their desires. The sheep know him and will only follow his voice. They know little of his language. Yet because they trust his gentle voice they follow him. He smiles at them. They are ready for him to lead them.
Paths of righteousness are the best way for the sheep to live following the shepherd. A path must be walked one step at a time to reach green meadows and quiet waters. Righteousness is the actions and positive results of a sound loving relationship between Shepherd Jesus and his people.
Biblical righteousness is rooted in covenants and relationships. Righteousness is fulfilling the terms of a covenant between God and his sheep. Righteousness is not a characteristic of God. Rather, God’s righteousness is what God does to fulfill the terms of the covenant. The new covenant is fulfilled in the blood of the Lamb of God. Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) The covenant is the creation of order living.
God found fault with the people so through Jeremiah the prophet he promised, “The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah… By calling this covenant “new” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear… Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance–now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 8:8, 13, 9:15)
It was for his name’s sake that the blood of the Lamb is what the new covenant was written in. It is to my benefit for through his path of righteousness made in his blood I find green pastures and quiet waters. The path is paved with his blood, the blood of the Good Shepherd who is the Lamb.
