“He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3, NRSV).

Imagine the “paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3) stretching out before you, way out into the distance. You cannot see the end, but you know that at the end of the journey is home, God’s house. As you focus a little closer to you, do you see where the paths lead? You can see some places clearly, but other parts are totally obstructed by large or dangerous obstacles. Sometimes the path disappears over a ridge.

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

Some parts of the path are easy to walk along; others are difficult. It was just like this as Israel traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land, and it is described the same way in this psalm.

Identify from the locations that David sees the sheep passing through when following the paths of righteousness as they make their way to the house of the Lord.

But why are these paths called “paths of righteousness” or “right paths” (NIV, NRSV)? Here are four important reasons. First, they are the right paths because they lead to the right destination — the Shepherd’s home. Second, they are the right paths because they keep us in harmony with the right person — the Shepherd Himself. Third, they are the right paths because they train us to be the right people — like the Shepherd. Fourth, they are the right paths because they give us the right witness — as we become the right people, we give glory to the Lord. They are “right” or “righteous” paths, whether the going is easy or hard.

It is important to realize that when God leads us, it is not simply a question of His delivering a parcel to the destination. It is much more than guidance and protection. Like the many examples all through the Bible in which God is leading His people (whether it is leading Abraham by His promises or leading Israel by the pillar of fire and cloud), when God is guiding, it is always about His training His people in righteousness.

<–Sunday Tuesday–>

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Key Thought: Psalm 23 talks about a path. The path takes us through the highs and lows in our lives. Do we know and trust the Shepherd as we move along this path.
July 2, 2022

1. Have a volunteer read Psalm 23:1-3.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
2. How can trials alter our paths so that our lives change to better reflect the character of Christ?
3. Personal Application: What does it mean to you to know that there is Someone this caring for you? Share your thoughts..
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states, “I don’t know if God cares for me that much. I’ve seen so much pain, sorrow, and disappointment in my life that I have a hard time recognizing His presence, direction, or protection.’” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read Psalm 23:4.

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. How do God’s rod and staff provide comfort in times of trouble?
3. Personal Application: Have you ever faced a valley of the shadow of death? Did you have any fear, even knowing God is there? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your friends states, “How can I not help being fearful when I am facing death – whether by war, or assault, or cancer, or accident, or old age? Isn’t it natural to fear death?” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Psalm 23:5.

1. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
2. What does it mean to anoint us with oil and have a full cup in the face of our enemies?
3. Personal Application: What types of enemies have you had in your life? How have you responded to those who have tried to hurt you or those you love? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “I haven’t chosen very good paths in my life. But now that I have chosen to become a Christian and follow Jesus, I find that path to be very difficult because of my past. How do I not do what is normal and seek revenge and react in kind when threatened? That’s what I was taught to do.” How would you respond to your relative?

4. Have a volunteer read Psalm 23:6..

1. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
2. What two things did David say here that he is certain of?
3. Personal Application: What evidence from your life or from the Bible could you share with someone who questions the certainty of God’s care? Share your thoughts.
4. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!(2)

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Welcome to the commencement of the Third Quarter’s Sabbath School lesson studies.

Having scanned through the lesson quarterly, there are so many hymns from which to choose a theme. In effect, there is a commencing theme hymn which changes through the quarter to the finale theme hymn. To start with, we could use
Hymn 552 – The Lord’s My Shepherd or 
Hymn 545 – Savior, Like a Shepherd. Somewhere in the middle of the quarter one could change the theme and add in 
Hymn 159 – On a Hill Far Away which is where we complete our studies in Lesson 13.

Sunday has children stating clearly that “God is love”:
Hymn 76 – O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go,
Hymn 77 – O Love of God Most Full,
Hymn 78 – For God So Loved Us,
Hymn 79 – O Love of God, How Strong and True!,
Hymn 116 – Of the Father’s Love Begotten,
Hymn 148 – O Love How Deep How Broad,
Hymn 162 – Wondrous Love,
Hymn 179 – The Wonders of Redeeming Love,
Hymn 190 – Jesus Love Me,
Hymn 191 – Love Divine,
Hymn 197 – The King of Love My Shepherd Is, and
Hymn 359 – God Is Love.

There are many more hymns about God’s wondrous love that could still be added to the list above!

The paths of righteousness spoken of in Monday’s study can be found in 
Hymn 552 – The Lord’s My Shepherd and 
Hymn 546 – The Lord’s My Shepherd.

The valley detours showing the types of paths we may walk along, is also in 
Hymn 447 – Long Upon the Mountains (verse 1) in contrast to the paths in 
Hymn 456 – My Lord and I (verse 2) and 
Hymn 631 – When On Life a Darkness Falls (verse 1).

What a wonder David puts before us (Wednesday) the preparation of a banquet for his enemies, just as Jesus will do for us in Heaven: 
Hymn 104 – My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs and 
Hymn 546/552 – The Lord’s My Shepherd.

We see our God with unfailing love, pursuing “me all the days of my life” (Thursday) where we find His arms are open wide: 
Hymn 289 – The Savior Is Waiting (verse 3). It is there that we are able to be 
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms – Hymn 469, and find He will shield us: 
Hymn 499 – What a Friend We Have in Jesus (verse 3).

To learn unknown hymns, you will find the accompaniment music for each one at: https://sdahymnals.com/Hymnal/

Another great resource is for when there is a hymn you wish to sing, but can’t find it in your hymnal. Go to https://www.sdahymnal.org and in the search bar type a special word in that is in the hymn. I am sure you will be amazed at the help you will be given.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(1)

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“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, NKJV).

Some children were asked to draw a picture of God. Without exception, each one drew a picture with a heart somewhere in it. When asked why, they declared unanimously that God is love. It was as simple as that.

Image © Darrel Tank at Goodsalt.com

It is easy to have a good opinion about God and His purposes when everything is going well. But as we grow older and life becomes harder and more complicated, our view of God often changes. God doesn’t change, of course (Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17); but we do.

Because of the pastoral lifestyle of the people in Old Testament times, uses the image of a shepherd to describe the way God cares for us. The symbol of a shepherd is used for God — in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It’s a wonderful picture and one that is changeless, too. Before we look at , let’s survey how different Bible writers understand the work and character of the Shepherd throughout the Bible.

What do you learn about the Shepherd from each of the following verses?

Isaiah 40:11

Jeremiah 23:3-4, 

Ezekiel 34:12

John 10:14-16

1 Peter 2:25

Now turn to Psalm chapter 23. What does the Shepherd do to care for His sheep?

Psalm 23:2

Psalm 23:3

Psalm 23:4

Psalm 23:5

Psalm 23:6

<–Sabbath Monday–>

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Image © Pacific Press

Sabbath Afternoon

Read for This Week’s Study: Psalm 23:1-6, Romans 12:18-21.

Memory Text: “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3-4).

Sophie leaned back against her bedroom door and slid to the floor. Tears were welling up fast, and it was only a moment before she was sobbing. “How could he? How could he!” Sophie had just received news that was breaking her heart. Someone she thought was a friend, someone she respected and trusted, was spreading awful gossip about her in order to ruin her reputation and the work she had been doing. Grabbing her Bible off the bed, she suddenly found herself staring at some very familiar words: “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (, Psalm 23:4, NKJV).

“Surely this can’t be!” she blurted out to herself. But the logic seemed inescapable. The Shepherd in the psalm was guiding His sheep in paths of righteousness, but these very paths also seemed to wind their way into the valley of the shadow of death. Could it be possible that even this painful betrayal by a friend, this dark valley, could be used by God to train her in righteousness?

The Week at a Glance: At what times have you grown more spiritually — through the easy times or the harder ones?

Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 2.

Sunday–>

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