Psalm 23:6 - One Of The Crown Jewels Of Scripture - verse 6.

Psa. 23: One Of The Crown Jewels Of Scripture - verse 6.

Psa 23:6 (KJV)  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for
ever.

Psa 23:6 (CWR)  Your goodness and mercy will be with me every
day of my life, and I will live with the Lord in His house forever.

Psa 23:6 (TLB)  Your goodness and unfailing kindness shall be
with me all of my life, and afterwards I will live with you forever
in your home.

Though many expositors combine these verses (5 and 6), there is
definitely a change in David's thought pattern. Verse 5 pictures a guest at
a banquet, even with enemies present. This symbolizes God's
protective care over His children in the midst of a wicked and antagonistic
world (cf. Phil. 2:15). Verse 6 is finally the heavenly scene; no
enemies are present here to oppose God's children. [Believer's SB]

Surely goodness: i. e., nothing but goodness. (Jamieson,
Fausset, and Brown Commentary)

Mercy: steadfast love. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown Commentary]

His "goodness and love" reflect the attributes of Yahweh.
[Expositors Bible Commentary]

Follow: Lit. "pursue." [NIV SB]

Shall follow me: As my enemies, like wild beasts, follow me with
evil intent, so God follows me with good. (Jamieson, Fausset, and
Brown Commentary)

When the Lord is our Shepherd, instead of being stalked by wild
beasts we are pursued by the loving care of the Lord. [Nelson SB]

Instead of being pursued by enemies who seek his destruction,
God's "goodness and love" follow him. He need not fear, because God's
care will always manifest itself in his provisions, abundance, and
protection. His loving care follows him throughout life. The psalmist does
not say that our cup shall always be full or that our heads will
always be anointed with oil, but we do have the promise that God's
beneficence will be our lifelong companion. The experience of God's
"goodness and love" is equivalent to dwelling "in the house of the LORD."
[Expositors Bible Commentary]

House of the LORD is the place where God is. [Ryrie SB]

"It is not the place but the vitality of the relationship which
transforms" [Expositors Bible Commentary]

The house of the LORD forever: God's promise was not just for
the enjoyment of this life; it was also for the full enjoyment of
the life to come in His blessed presence. [Nelson SB]

For ever. implying as long as he lives. But the believing child
of God looks beyond his fellowship with God in this life to eternal
communion in the world to come. The psalm closes in a mood of unending
gladness. [SDA Commentary]

Not merely as a guest-for-a-day, but forever. [Ryrie SB]

Goodness and mercy, all the streams of mercy flowing from the
fountain, pardoning mercy, protecting mercy, sustaining mercy, supplying
mercy.... it shall follow into all places and all conditions, shall be
always ready..... all my life long, even to the last;... new every morning
(Matthew Henry's Commentary)

"Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life here,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever," for heaven,
where God dwells, will be his eternal home. (Barnes' Notes)

God as the Gracious Host. The writer introduces a secondary
metaphor to further express his trust. The scene changes to show the
psalmist as the guest of honor at God's house, enjoying the warm
hospitality characteristic of the East. He is under God's protection. His
head is anointed with perfumed oil. His every need is completely
satisfied. On the basis of this trust, every moment of his life will be
filled with God's richest blessings. The greatest blessing will be an
intimate fellowship with God through continued worship of Him. [Wycliffe
Bible Commentary]

May your goodness and mercy be with ____________ all the days of
his/her life and may he/she rejoice in the confidence of living with you
forever in your heavenly home. [Pocket Prayers by Robert Savage]