Surely Goodness and Mercy

Surely Goodness and Mercy

Psalms 23:6 – Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

David concludes these precious verses with confidence.  What does it mean to be followed by goodness and mercy every day?  Here’s a possible explanation:  Each day we face evil from every angle. We are surrounded by enemies.  We are reminded as we get older, suffer injury or illness that the valley of the shadow of death is a reality we must face.  Where’s the goodness and mercy in all these things? 

The goodness and mercy is tied to the Great Shepherd.  As we face these things accompanied by the Great Shepherd we will find the oasis of green pastures and quiet waters in the midst of the painful wilderness.  We will find paths of righteousness in the midst of easy paths of unrighteousness.  We will be comforted by the light of God’s presence while walking through the valley shadowed with death.  And we will be anointed with the Holy Spirit at God’s table in the presence of enemies who want to deceive, persecute, ridicule, censor, control, coerce, and finally kill us.

While walking with the Great Shepherd we will leave behind in our wake a path of goodness and mercy for others to follow.  People will see how we handle suffering and see the goodness and mercy of God.  Just look at what people leave behind as they suffer and you will see whether they are being shepherded by Jesus Christ.  Who is shepherding You?  What are you leaving behind in the wake of your life?  Distemper and impatience or goodness and mercy?

With the Lord as our shepherd, we will lack nothing of eternal value and when this life is over and Jesus comes again we will dwell with Him in His house, in His family forever. 

Dear Lord Jesus, please be my shepherd today.  Amen!