Looking at Psalm 23 through the lens of suffering (6a)

v.6a “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”

When you’re in the valley of despair, trauma and fear, it’s difficult to know what goodness and mercy will ever look like again. However…

The NLT paraphrases it this way ‘Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever’.

Mercy and goodness ‘pursue’ not merely ‘follow’ us ‘ALL’ the days of our lives. Chad Bird talking of goodness and mercy puts it this way ‘They do not merely ‘follow’ us but ‘radaf’ - the Hebrew verb for ‘chase down or pursue’. Chased by mercy, hounded by goodness, pursued by the love of Jesus, we enter and dwell in the Father’s house as his beloved lambs, part of the fold for which Christ laid down his life’. (John 10:11) 

What Psalm 23 emphasises above all else is the love, care, affection and attention that the Shepherd has for his sheep. 

No matter what we go through in life, the Shepherd is pursuing us, chasing us down. The flesh and the enemy will shout at me that God the shepherd has left the picture. He is no longer near and has abandoned us. It very much feels like that a lot of the time. But scripture tells me differently as we can see from this wonderful verse in Psalm 23. 

Keller writes ‘no matter what comes, at least and always he can be perfectly sure that goodness and mercy will be in the picture. He reassures himself that he is ever under sound, sympathetic, intelligent ownership. What more need he care about? Goodness and mercy will be the treatment he receives from his master’s expert, loving hands’. 

What mercy and goodness looks like I’m not really sure. I have to leave that to Him, who knows best. There are many who will scoff at such a thing especially when our lives look like they are in ruins.

 Scripture however says “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 24“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3 NKJV

All the days of my life is what is promised. Scripture reminds us elsewhere that He will never leave us nor forsake us. Deut 4:31; Deut 31:6;8, Josh 1:5, Heb 13:5

Every day and all of my life His mercies are new and pursue, chase after me. Doesn’t always feel like it but God’s word says they do and I stand on His word even if at times I feel like doing otherwise. 

v.6b “and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Keller writes ‘Actually what is referred to by “house” is the family or household or flock of the Good shepherd. the sheep is so deeply satisfied with the flock to which it belongs, with the ownership of this particular shepherd, that it has no wish to change whatever.’

I will dwell in His house, His presence forever. Would I want to dwell anywhere else? There are times when I’ve felt that maybe God has cast me out and that I’m no longer worthy to be a part of His fold. There are times when I’ve questioned God’s care for me that I didn’t want to do this ‘Christian’ stuff anymore and therefore didn’t want to be in His house. I’m sure there are others looking on, both Christian and non who wonder why we would carry on with God after the tragic circumstances in our lives.

I come back to what the Peter said to Jesus when other disciples where leaving “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”… John 6:68

Where else would we go? We know deep down that God the good shepherd has the answers to all of our trauma, despair, doubt. And it's in His house that I want to dwell not just now but for all of eternity. 

Yes, our situation hurts everyday. No, this is not what we wanted for our son. But I am so thankful for Psalm 23 and affirm v.1 that the Lord is my shepherd and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer - Father, You are the One to which we turn in times of trouble. Help us to see beyond our situation and experience the goodness and mercy which is chasing each and every day. Thank You that we have a wonderful future ahead when on that day we will see you face to face and will know beyond a shadow of doubt that You were who You said You were and that Your goodness and mercy were pursuing us right into glory. Amen