We are about to conclude our observation on Psalm 23 closing out with verse 6. This beautiful passage clearly speaks to us of the assurance we can have in the Lord. So far in this Psalm we are witnesses to the Lord as he offers us His presence, His provisions, His protection, His preservation and His preparation and finally in this last verse we see the extent of His Peace as we find the precious conclusion to this passage. Each step leading to the culmination of the peace of God found in this verse.
Please allow me at this time to share my final thoughts and ponderings with you on this passage. As always, there is a lot that can be gleaned from this last verse of the 23 psalm. All of this is noted in these final pen strokes of the palmist as he concludes this beloved Psalm.
Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This beautiful and beloved Psalm now sets before us our eternal home at the Father’s house. The house of the Lord also includes with it the fact that we as God’s people are His sheep following Christ as our as a beloved and most trusted shepherd. It is Christ who both rules and feeds the sheep mentioned above. This closing verse expounds for us the blessings that have been mentioned in the first six verses are concluded for us in the spiritual realm of His home. Let’s take a few moments to see what this final verse has to say to those who know and trust in the Lord.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me...” This verse starts out for us with the palmist stating for us as in fact or in truth. He is stating for us that what he has said and is about to is irrefutable and at the same time encouraging. This is to be noted with his choice of the word “Surely.” It is not by chance he has chosen this word but choice as if to set as a seal upon what has been said and including his conclusion. It is a word that is used with confidence and certainty that what he is about to conclude is in truth or in fact. With this thought in mind we can in fact read the opening sentence as, “only goodness and mercy.” Only through an experiential relationship with the Lord and a working knowledge of both His grace and Mercy can this statement be made. Not only is he consciously aware of these two attributes but he confidently makes the statement, “…goodness and mercy shall follow me...” This tells us that these two attributes of God stand by us as if they were twin guardian angels. He writes for us with the assurance that the believer will always assured that they will be there to protect out back and surround us when necessary.
With the knowledge that the goodness and mercy will follow him always means, “all the days of his life” this includes the dark days we experience as well as the bright days we relish in. It includes the days of drought that we are currently experiencing as well as the days of the flourishing rain. Through days of fasting and or feasting or the cold of winter as well as the heat summer he is always going to be there. I am reminded of a similar passage by the Apostle Paul which states, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). Again as with the Psalmist we see a passage written to and for us with the confidence that this is a truth for us to believe and live with. It is a statement of truth to the believer that the goodness of God supplies our needs, and it is His mercy that blots out our sins.
This Psalm concludes with the final statement, “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This is one of the most precious statements in this psalm stating a truth that many believers over look. This truth being, “A servant does not abide in the master’s house for ever, but the son does and he abides there forever.” Notice the scripture referenced below:
John 8:34-36, “Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. (35) And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. (36) Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
John 15:14 - 15, “You are my friends, if ye do what I command you. (15) No longer do I call you slaves; for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”
Romans 8:14-17, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, (17) and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Galatians 4:6-7, “And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’ (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”
While we reside here on earth we are to serve Him while we are considered a child of God. We serve because we Love Him and out of reverence for him.
David wrote this praise in song 1000’s of years ago yet we see it culminated in the Scriptures that followed long after his death but truly in line with that which the Spirit gave him. We may ask, what need is not met, what need is not fulfilled, what need is not supplied? The answer is none; He has surpassed them all in the work and ministry of our Lord Jesus our Shepherd. Again we must turn to the Apostle Paul in which he stated, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19).
Solomon in his ecclesiastical conclusion stated that all is vanity. David in his conclusion says just the opposite, as did the Apostle Paul. What ever the need, be it Spiritual, emotional or physical, the needs of the flock are all met by “My Shepherd.” Yes, I do understand and plead with David as he states, the Lord is “My Shepherd,” and because He is, I shall not want.
