“1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 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 NIV).
Let’s complete our look at what has to be David’s best known Psalm “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This verse contains two separate but equally important thoughts.
First is the knowledge that the sheep who are lucky enough to be in the care of a conscientious shepherd know that their lot in life is one marked by the kind graces of their shepherd. No matter what comes their way, they can always be sure that goodness and mercy are in the picture!
You too can have that confidence if you know the Lord Jesus Christ and are under His care. No matter what happens you can be sure that the care you are receiving is motivated by goodness and mercy and tender love.
I wonder how many of us feel that way about Christ? It’s easy when things are going well, but what about those times when my world is falling apart, and my castles are crumbling, and my dreams are dying, can we say then, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life?” I believe the answer to that question to be a resounding yes!
But there is another aspect to this picture. Notice it says, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me.” Phillip Keller in his book, points out that sheep can be the most beneficial of all livestock or the most destructive — it depends upon how they are handled.
If they are managed poorly, they will devastate the land; almost beyond recovery. But if they are managed properly, they are a tremendous benefit to the land. Keller talks about how on various occasions he was allowed to graze his sheep on land that was virtually desolate. Through proper management, the land was restored to places of beauty and productivity because the sheep had been there.
I wonder what people say about us? Will they say that we leave in our paths destruction and turmoil, or will they say wherever we go, goodness and mercy marks our path? Keller writes: “Do I leave behind peace in lives — or turmoil? Do I leave behind forgiveness — or bitterness? Do I leave behind contentment — or conflict? Do I leave behind flowers of joy — or frustration? Do I leave behind love — or rancor?”
Good questions. What are you leaving behind? What am I leaving behind? Goodness and mercy or griping and misery?
The 23rd Psalm. A fount of wisdom, peace, security, truth, and love. Perhaps you are here today, and you have wondered away from the Good Shepherd, you have jumped fence so to speak, and are now far from the Shepherds tender care, and you realize that and you want to come back, let me tell you, the Shepherd has already left the fold and is looking just for you.
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