Scripture: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 ESV
Observation: As we conclude this series on Psalm 23, verse 6 provides the bridge between David’s motifs of the Good Shepherd (verses 1-4) and King (verses 5), who guides, protects, and pours out his blessings on his servant. Indeed, this psalm echoes Israel’s Exodus: God delivers his people from their enemies, guides them through the wilderness providing miraculous sustenance (manna), and establishes their dwelling place in his Promised Land. Thus, confident of Yahweh’s track record in his and his ancestors’ lives, David trusts in the Lord’s goodness and mercy that will lead him onward and upward.
Takeaway: While David could only imagine an earthly “house of the Lord,” that his son, Solomon, would construct and Israel’s enemies would destroy, he confidently trusted in Yahweh’s goodness and mercy that would establish an eternal, indestructible throne from David’s lineage (1 Kings 2:45). A millennium later, the Son of God, born from the line of David, would fulfill the Father’s promise and dwell with us here on earth so that future generations who know and love Immanuel would reside with him in his eternal house (John 14:2).
What does this mean for you and me? As described in this beloved 23rd Psalm, we press on through our sin-marred world empowered by the Father’s goodness and mercy imparted by the Holy Spirit, who guides, provides, protects, and pours out Christ’s overflowing blessings of joy and peace on us in the presence of our enemies. And one day, we will join David and all the saints who have gone before us, dwelling at the Lord’s table in his heavenly kingdom where we will glorify and enjoy him forever.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your goodness and mercy revealed in the redemptive work of your Son, our Good Shepherd. Would you please draw us near to you that we might live the abundant life amid trials and suffering and one day dwell in your eternal heavenly house? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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