aBible.com     

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