Goodness and Mercy

We are nearing the end of our sermon series, "Shepherd Me." After today, one more sermon in the series. In this series, we have been studying through .

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Today, we come to the last verse in . Today, we are going to look at the first part of v. 6.

Illustration: Joe Namath: Super Bowl Guarantee (Super Bowl 3, Colts), Fan at Saints-Steelers game, winner-loser)

The first part of verse 6 is a bold statement. This is bold statement of all the troubles that we face in life. It doesn't seem that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives. After all, some days are filled with pain, hurt, and grief. Other days are filled with disappointment and adversity.

V. 6: This is a bold statement.

Illustration: Who Wants to Be A Millionaire: 50-50, Ask the Audience, or Phone a Friend

John Carpenter: On the November 19, 1999 episode of Millionaire, Carpenter proceeded to advance to the million-dollar question without using any lifelines. He then used his Phone-A-Friend to call his father not for help, but rather to tell him he was going to win the game. Carpenter answered the question correctly and became the show's first millionaire. His win gave him national recognition and led to multiple talk show appearances, as well as reappearances on Millionaire itself.

David is certain of this bold statement. Look at how he begins the verse - surely. David is certain that goodness and mercy follow us all the days of our lives.

My hope is that by the end of the sermon today that we have the same certainty of David. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

1. The goodness and mercy of God.

Let's talk about goodness first.

Illustration: Hurricane Harvey

Texans star J.J. Watt and his foundation have provided a two-year update on his $37 million Hurricane Harvey relief fund and reported that the money has helped rebuild more than 1,183 homes in the Houston area. More than 971 childcare centers and after school programs have also been rebuilt and recovered with the money, which have helped more than 108,000 kids, and over 239 million meals have been distributed to victims of the hurricane.

God is good to us.

(KJV) O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

(KJV) The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

(NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

The word "goodness" is talking about the blessings of God, the generosity ofGod. This word "goodness" is talking about the provision and protection of God. This word "goodness" refers to the love and care that God has for us. Much of what we have talked about so far is this series can be summarized by this word "goodness."

The word "goodness" is also closely connected to the next word "mercy."

In , Moses asked to see the glory of God. God responded back to Moses that He would show Moses all his goodness. This is what Moses sees in .

(NKJV) And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin …

God's goodness has to do with His mercy, His forgiveness. So goodness is closely connected to mercy.

Now, let's look at this word translated "mercy."

Illustration: Recess or Pizza, Lunch, Nap, Vacation, Beach, Victory

The word for "mercy" in Hebrew is a great word. It's the word "Hesed." Take this word in Hebrews, "Hesed." No one English word can adequately translate the depth of this word in Hebrews.

Hesed has to do with God's mercy and forgiveness. Hesed also has to do with words like grace, steadfast love, kindness, loyalty, and faithfulness. Think about how each of these words describe God.

God is merciful to us. God is forgiving to us. God shows grace to use. God shows us steadfast love. God's love for us runs deep for us and does not end. God also shows us kindness. God is loyal to us. God is faithfulness. All that is rolled into this word "Hesed."

This first point has looked at God's goodness and mercy. Here is how F. B. Meyer defined the goodness and mercy of God.

“GOODNESS TO SUPPLY EVERY WANT.

MERCY TO FORGIVE EVERY SIN.

GOODNESS TO PROVIDE.

MERCY TO PARDON.”

Max Lucado: “Goodness and mercy. Not goodness alone, for we are sinners in need of mercy. Not mercy alone, for we are fragile, in need of goodness. We need them both.”

So, that's point one: the goodness and mercy of God.

2. Chases after us.

Let's go back to verse 6. The goodness and mercy of God follow us. When I think of the word "follow," I think of our dog LuLu. She follows Kim, Ethan, Olivia, and me around everywhere.

That is not the idea behind this word "follow." The idea of this word is a relentless pursuit, a tenacious pursuit.

Illustration: Police Chase

That's the idea in verse 6. God's goodness and mercy chase after us. Life is a marathon. At times, life is a sprint. God's goodness and mercy chase after us. Let that picture sink into your minds.

3. Every day of our lives.

Illustration: Medicine

Look at verse 6 once more. Think about the size and magnitude of how this phrase ends. Goodness and mercy chase after the child of God each and every day of their lives.

What kind of days lie ahead for us?

Perhaps, you are a stay at home mom. Maybe you see yourself chasing after toddlers for the next couple of years. As you chase after toddlers, God's goodness and mercy is going to chase after you.

Maybe, you are in junior high school. You see the days to come be fillies with school, homework, tests, quizzes, projects, athletics events, and extra curricular activities. As you live the life of a junior high or senior high student, God's goodness and mercy is going to chase after you.

Maybe, your days are filled with sickness. In the days to come, you see doctors visits, procedures, treatments, tests, and medicines. In your days of sickness, God's goodness and mercy is going to chase after you.

For some of us, days in the future are going to be filled with grief, loss, uncertainty, disappointment. In those days of loss, uncertainty, and disappointment, God's goodness and mercy is going to chase after us.

Read verse 6.

Some of us need to slow down and take the time to see God's goodness and mercy on a daily basis.

Some of us need to stopping running from God and see God's goodness and mercy.

Everyday, God's goodness and mercy chases after us.

Conclusion

Verse 6. This is a bold statement. But David is confident in this statement. David had experienced.

David's life like our was like a roller coaster. In David's life, there were highs, and there were lows. In David's life, there was triumphs and defeats. In David's life, there was both happiness and heartache. In David's life, there was sin, and there was forgiveness.

No matter what David faced or endured, David confidently says, "Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life."