Psalm 23:6 - JESUS GOODNESS AND MERCY.
Psalm 23:6 (NKJV) Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me All the days of my life; And I
will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
Psalm 23:6 (NIV) Surely goodness and love
will follow me all the days of my life, and I
will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 23:6 (NLT) 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.
Psalm 23:6 (ESV) Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life, and I
shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
COMMENTARY PEARL
I'm chasing a one-year-old who just
learned to walk. Everyone longs to see children take
their first steps, but when they do, look out!
This little one is curious about everything,
especially anything dangerous, like electrical outlets
and power cords and stairs. She's like all
kids.
Escaping from my watchful eye is my
granddaughter's favorite game. Because walking is so new to
her, it's all the more important that I stay
close to here. She's not always conscious of solid
footing, tripping hazards, or maintaining a pace that
will keep her upright rather than toppling toward
her destination.
Because I love her, I want to protect
her. But I also want to give her freedom to
experience the wonders of her newly learned skill and
to enjoy exploring. So I'm "on her tail," as
they say, which keeps me on my toes.
Because Jesus loves me and wants to
protect me, His goodness and mercy follow me all the
days of my life. He knows I'm not always alert to
the tripping hazards embedded in my choices. I
can't always tell that where I'm planting my feet
isn't solid. Sometimes I run too fast or lag
behind in obeying Him, and either can hurt me more
than bruised shins.
Jesus isn't on my case in a negative,
condemning way. He has my back. He's always on duty,
always making my safety and joy His priority
because of His love.
Every time I turn around, there they are
- His goodness and mercy chasing me down. How
comforting to know that His love for me won't let me
out of His sight. Cynthia Ruchti
Faith Step: Observe how diligent parents
balance giving their child freedom while protecting
them from danger. Thank Jesus for chasing after
you. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by
Guideposts and Zondervan]
COMMENTARY
God's Sheepdogs
The words of Psalm 23 are very familiar
to all of us. Yet, unless we read that psalm
through the eyes of a sheep, we will miss its
magnificent message. Remember how it concludes? "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" (KJV).
Think of goodness and mercy as God's
sheepdogs. They stay with us, close by our side, "all
the days of our lives." And what helpful
companions they are!
The ancient Hebrews had one word they
used most often for mercy: chesed, pronounced
"kesed." It is frequently translated "kindness" and
"lovingkindness." While grazing through the Old Testament this
past week, I found no less than five different
"miseries" to which mercy brings needed relief.
When we're suffering the pain of unfair
and unjust consequences(Gen. 39:21"23).
Joseph, when dumped into a dungeon because of a
false accusation, was given chesed - divine
relief. It relieved him of the misery of bitterness,
the companion of unfair treatment.
When we're enduring the grief of a death
(Ruth 1:8"9). Shortly after the premature deaths
of her sons, Naomi asks the Lord to grant her
grieving daughters-in-law chesed. God not only gives
"dying grace." He also provides "grieving mercy,"
which relieves us of the misery of anger in the
backwash of our accepting the loss of a loved one.
When we're struggling with the
limitations of a handicap (2 Sam. 9). David extended
chesed to Mephibosheth, the crippled son of
Jonathan, and provided him a place at the king's table
for the rest of his days. Mercy relieves the
misery of self-pity that often accompanies a
handicap.
When we are hurting physically (Job
10:12). The Lord gave chesed to Job, which
strengthened him to go on during his days of intense
pain. Divine relief removes the misery of
hopelessness that would otherwise overwhelm us in times
of great affliction.
When we are under a cloud of guilt after
we have committed a transgression. Psalms 32
and 51 both speak of David's gratitude for
chesed after the Bathsheba affair. His sin was not
only forgiven, his guilt was taken away. In His
mercy and lovingkindness, God relieves the misery
of guilt the lingering sting of
wrongdoing.
No unfair consequence is too extreme for
mercy. No grief too deep. No handicap too
debilitating. No pain too excruciating. No sin too
shameful.
Sheep are often in need, so mercy, our
faithful companion, stays near.
"There's a wideness in God's mercy, like
the wideness of the sea" (Frederick W. Faber).
Goodness and mercy are God's sheepdogs,
staying close by our side "all the days of our
lives." [Chuck Swindoll www.insight.org.]
CLOSING PEARL
Dare we envision a God who follows us?
Who pursues us? Who chases us? Who tracks us
down and wins us over? Who follows us with
"goodness and mercy" all the days of our lives?
Isn't this the kind of God described in
the Bible? A God who follows us?
Moses can tell you about it. He was forty
years in the desert when he looked over his
shoulder and saw a bush blazing. God had followed him
into the wilderness.
Jonah can tell you about it. He was a
fugitive on a boat when he looked over his shoulder
and saw clouds brewing. God had followed him
onto the ocean.
The disciples of Jesus knew the feeling
of being followed by God. They were rain soaked
and shivering when they looked over their
shoulders and saw Jesus walking toward them. God had
followed them into the storm.
John the Apostle was banished on Patmos
when he looked over his shoulder and saw the
skies begin to open. God had followed him into his
exile.
Lazarus was three days dead in a sealed
tomb when he heard a voice, lifted his head, and
looked over his shoulder and saw Jesus standing.
God had followed him into death.
Peter had denied his Lord and gone back
to fishing when he heard his name and looked
over his shoulder and saw Jesus cooking
breakfast. God had followed him in spite of his
failure.
God is the God who follows. I wonder...
have you sensed him following you? We often miss
him.
Through the kindness of a stranger. The
majesty of a sunset. The mystery of romance. Through
the question of a child or the commitment of a
spouse. Through a word well spoken or a touch well
timed, have you sensed his presence?
His goodness and mercy will follow us all
the days of our lives. [Max Lucado Daily
Devotional at maxlucado.com]
LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY
Psalm 23:6 - JESUS LOVE.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210916-1026.html
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Steps to Peace by Billy Graham:
https://stepstopeace.org/
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study
Guides:
https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible
Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug
Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
