"He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." Psalm 23:3b

This is the second part of verse 3.

He leads me - This implies that I have the choice to follow. If you want to really live life, then follow the Shepherd. His path is a better one than that of our own making - His ways are so much higher than ours (see Isaiah 55:9). Jesus tells the story of a sheep that didn't follow, but went another way and got lost - see Luke 15:1-7. The story has a happy ending though, thanks to the shepherd who went out to look for the lost one.

In the paths - A path is formed as many feet walk along a specific route. Perhaps you've been hiking along a marked trail and noticed, at a switch-back, how somebody once took a shortcut, instead of following the trail. Other feet followed, and a path has formed, where one was not intended. Eventually, the Park Ranger has to drive fence poles into the ground across the path of the shortcut, and post a sign saying "Keep to the marked trail."

Over the centuries, so many "sheep" have followed the Shepherd, that there is a well-defined path; and He is walking in it, going ahead of the sheep, leading. We are safe as we walk in the path with the Shepherd.

Notice the plural (paths) - there is more than one path. As the shepherd takes the sheep to different areas during the day, so there are many paths, but all for a purpose: to get the sheep to the specific destination, whether it be grazing, watering or the sheepfold.

This is not to say there are many ways to the Kingdom, for Christ said of Himself "I am the way …" (John 14:6), but rather that people from all walks of life have become followers of the Shepherd. (It's like the fish; "some of every kind" mentioned in Jesus' parable in Matthew 13:47). He calls His sheep from all peoples of the Earth.

Of righteousness - The Psalmist is not talking about ordinary paths. This is not the hustle-and-bustle of our daily lives. The paths of righteousness are the ways of obedience - doing what is right. He uses the plural (paths) to indicate different ways of obeying Jesus. Here are just a few: surrender (giving self to Him - we all battle with this one!); communication with Him; following in the way He directs.

For His name's sake - Why does He lead me the paths of righteousness? So that He will get the glory. It's for the sake of His name. Rev19:11 tells us His name is "Faithful and True."

Do you want Jesus to lead you through this day?