Psalm 23:1, 6 “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. …  Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the LORD’s house for the rest of my life.

If you aren’t familiar with Psalm 23, Here is a link where you can read it in many wonderful translations: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+23&version=NIV

This morning, I began praying for a friend who is going through a season where it appears some rough roads are ahead. Almost immediately the Holy Spirit brought Psalm 23:6a to mind. It says ““Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life…” 

It’s interesting, isn’t it, that though goodness and mercy are character qualities, David personified them. He said they “followed” him. Being followed always involves intentional action. I once heard a man preach a wonderful message on the 23rd Psalm. When he came to the 6th verse of the shepherd’s song, he said to visualize 2 angels, one named Goodness and the other, Mercy, constantly following you. I love that!

So this morning as I began to pray for my friend, I saw God’s messengers, Goodness and Mercy, following her, and I felt the Lord say that those angels won’t stop. This “all the days of my life” pathway she’s on will never come to a dead end. There will never be a moment or day in her life when Goodness and Mercy will tap her on the shoulder and say, “Well, this is the end of the road for us, this is where we part ways!” God’s promise is that each and every day she can expect to glance over her shoulder and see Goodness and Mercy intentionally keeping pace with her as they look for ways to deliver God’s grace. It’s true for my friend, it’s true for me, it’s true for you.

I believe the verses leading up to Psalm 23:6 are descriptions of how David, the shepherd, had discovered God’s loving care in so many ways. He knew that the wonderful experiences of life he was describing only happened because God’s goodness and mercy were his constant companions.

*His needs were always met (vs 1)

*God always brought him to rest, refreshment, and renewed strength.(vs 2-3)

*God kept him on the right path of life in order to protect His own reputation as Shepherd! (vs 3)

*If the days ahead looked scary, there simply wasn’t any fear, because He already knew God would both protect and comfort him. (vs 4)

*In fact, even when evil was all around, David could expect to enjoy whatever feast His Good Shepherd had prepared for him! (vs 5)

*God’s oil (representing the Holy Spirit’s presence) was always there to soothe, comfort, and bring healing. (vs 5)

*There was an abundance of God’s blessing available to him. His cup would never be empty!

And so, day after day, night after night, the angels God had assigned to follow David had carried out their mission well, and David knew they wouldn’t ever drop the ball.

Just like David, we can know that every morning we wake up to live yet another day, our own faithful angels, Goodness and Mercy, are ready and able, waiting to follow us. I think maybe they even carry baskets full of God’s grace, so they’re ever-ready to deliver His  blessings all day, every day, as long as we live!

Good Shepherd, how You have proven time and again to be an amazing Keeper of my life. When the enemy tries to bring a storm of anxiety to my soul, lead me to the feast of love you have prepared for me, and teach me to cast my cares on You and rest in Your goodness, Your mercy, and Your never ending provision for my every need and concern. I will always boast that YOU are my shepherd, and my every need will always be supplied. Thank You Lord!