He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Ps23: 3a
We have seen that the word translated “leadeth” here means transporting into exile as a colonist or “to govern.” It means the sheep is constrained against its will and desire into a place that is not its natural place. The sheep may eventually come to love this new place, but the tendency is to run away if it is freed. Colonists use taskmasters with a particular mindset or given a particular mandate to achieve a particular result in their subjects.
Example: In Egypt, the taskmasters wanted to build inferiority complex and a slave mentality into the Israelites so they were treated in a particular way. This method was so effective that even when the Israelites left Egypt, that mentality remained in them for many generations.
Now who are the taskmasters that the Shepherd uses to constrain the sheep into the path of righteousness? It is mentioned explicitly in the bible:
I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Isa 60:17
The ISV says, ‘I will appoint peace as your supervisor and righteousness as your taskmaster.” The taskmaster assigns the burden you carry. The taskmaster of righteousness gives you a burden of righteousness. A desire to walk the right path, do the right things, say the right words. It is a burden. It does not come from you, but it is assigned to you. You don’t feel comfortable with it, but you are compelled to do it. And you feel a relief of peace when you obey the burden. The supervisor is superior to the taskmaster. So the supervisor here is peace. Even your hard tasks are subjected to the peace of God. The demands of righteousness comes with the peace of righteousness.
Notice what happens in this verse under the influence of the taskmaster and the supervisor. The word “bo” translated as “bring” in Isaiah 60:17 also means “to attain to” which implies a change of status. So Bronze attains to Gold, iron becomes silver, wood becomes bronze (which becomes gold) and stones become iron (which becomes silver).
Wood, iron, bronze and stone were used for labour and instruments of war. Gold and silver were used as measure of wealth. Your battles and labours will be turned to unspeakable wealth under the transformational power of the taskmaster of righteousness.
In modern day Christianity we have assigned a negative meaning to the word “yoke”. But a yoke in itself is not bad. It is the instrument of productivity. It is what you are yoked to that is the problem. You attain the same results as the object to which you are yoked. We will consider the yoke of righteousness and its fruit of transformation tomorrow.
And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.Isa 32:17 (KJV)
I wish you righteousness today.
©THE LAMB OF GOD
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