Psalm 23, Verse 6: Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me

    ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the

    days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

The Psalmist says, “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”  David knew that he was the child of the Good Shepherd and, therefore, was assured of his goodness and mercy—his blessings. From experience, he had been surrounded and encompassed by it. It was there when he  confronted vicious animals who attacked his sheep. It was there when he fought the giant Goliath. It was part of his maturational DNA.

David  states at the end of Psalm 23: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  David walked out experientially and rested in the divine assurance of God’s everlasting, “his forever,” goodness and mercy.

It is that goodness and mercy that permeates God’s manual, the Bible, starting in Genesis and continuing throughout to Revelation and for eternity. It is through his mercy that God sent his Son, Jesus, who agreed to come to pay the price for our sins.  It is that goodness of the Lord that leads us to repentance.

God’s blessings and covering are constants and his presence is always with us. Even if we go astray–sin–we can be confident of God’s mercy when we repent. Just as with the Psalmist, David, we, too, can be assured of that all of the days of our lives here on earth and for eternity. Beloved, we are not deserving of God’s goodness, but in his mercy, he gives it to us anyway. Our Shepherd’s love is unconditional.

Be blessed.

Spiritual References:  (There are so many references to God’s “goodness and mercy” throughout the book of Psalm.)

Psalm 136: 1 — O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Psalm 145:9 — The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

Psalm 86:5 — For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Psalm 100:4-5 — Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.