https://odb.org/MY/2022/12/07/gods-sure-pursuit
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me for the rest of my days, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever! That’s the confident ending to Psalm 23 as penned by David, proclaiming and affirming that the LORD is our shepherd, who leads us to green pastures and still waters. His rod and staff protect us even as He leads us through the valley of the shadow of death; we will fear no evil. He will prepare a table of feast for us in the presence of our enemies. He is indeed our Shepherd even as Jesus also proclaimed that He is the Good Shepherd whose sheep will recognise and know His voice and who will lead us through the narrow gate and who will go out of His way to find us if we are lost.
The emphasis in today’s ODB reading is that the “follow” at the ending of Psalm 23 is not one that is passive but in its original Hebrew forceful and even aggressive. Meaning to say the goodness and mercies of God will pursue and run after us as we live in the glory of His presence. Exactly as written in the song, Goodness of God by Bethel Worship – the goodness of God will run after us. It is as though we are a magnet that just attracts and pulls the goodness and mercies of God as we live in His will with Jesus as our Shepherd!
In the end, what really matters in life? We want peace, love, and joy. We want to live a good life fulfilling God’s plans and purposes for us. We want to live a long life for the sake of our loved ones so we may be together as long as possible here on earth. Are riches that important? Are we seeking fame and fortune in the world? A name for ourselves in the history books? Ultimately, what really matters is God, and so if His goodness and mercies aggressively pursue after us, we are set for life! We will have the best that anyone can ever have! Be the person God wants us to be, live in the glory of His presence and then surely goodness and mercy will follow us for the rest of our lives as we live in the house of the LORD forever! Amen!
Ronnie's Thoughts 