This will be the last in the series on Psalm 23. But it has a tremendous future for us. David, in his prayer, said, Surely goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
This morning, I am borrowing from Dr. Robert Morgan. He wrote, “The 23rd Psalm is a genius of simplicity and the final verse has two simple points: if the Lord is our Shepherd, we have goodness and mercy (unfailing love) behind us and our Father’s House before us.”
The word “goodness” in this verse means “benefits, desirable realities, welfare, property, happiness, blessings.” It’s an all-inclusive word that implies we have a good God who does only good things and who gives only good gifts to those who know Him.
Dr. Morgan goes on to say, “The phrase ‘faithful love’, or mercy, is from a great Old Testament word for the steadfast love of God, whose nature is to be forgiving and benevolent. He surrounds our lives with acts of kindness that we don’t deserve, all because of His loyal and royal love for us. The word is ‘pursue’. The Hebrew term David originally used is proactive, meaning “to chase.” It’s as if David were saying that these two qualities, goodness and mercy, are like God’s sheepdogs. Others follow in shepherding lands, you’ll see a shepherd going in front of the sheep (flock), followed by the sheep. Bringing up the rear and running along the sides are the sheep dogs that help with the herding. And afterward we will live with Him forever in His house.
Here, Psalm 23 comes full circle. The shepherd has led his flock into the green pastures or the spring meadows. As the summer progressed and the pastures receded, he led them through mountain passes and deep valleys to higher ground. Now, as winter approaches, he brings them back down the hillside toward home, back to the folds (sheep pen) prepared for them, being herded by goodness and mercy. And there in our Father’s house, we will dwell forever.”
Jesus, our shepherd, made a similar promise in John 14:1-3, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
Right now, Jesus is preparing a place for each of us. It will be perfect. There won’t be any disease or sickness, no hospitals, no death, and much more. It will be a place of perfect justice. I hope you have accepted Jesus as your Savior. Only those who know Him will be allowed to enter. If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your Savior, please do it now. You do not want to go to that other place of continued torment. I want you in heaven with me.
Blessings,
Pastor Leonard
