Surely Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

Introduction:

One major though runs throughout this Psalm, the care of the Good Shepherd. In each verse a different characteristic of His love for His sheep has been revealed. We have consistently seen His love, mercy (in providing for their needs) and His protection of the flock. In John 10:11

King James Version Chapter 10

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep

and John 10:14

King James Version Chapter 10

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

In today’s verse all of these characteristics reach their climax. In order for us to fully grasp the meaning of the teachings, we have to focus our attention on a few key words in the verse:

Surely

The Hebrew word may be translate in one of three ways:

As surely or indeed.

As only, but, yet, or except.

As scarcely or barely.

Can we agree on the first translation? I looked up this meaning in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary and discovered three translations also:

In a sure manner; without danger or risk of injury or loss: safely.

With assurance or confidently.

Without doubt or certainly.

Surely…not maybe goodness & mercy will follow me.

Surely…not perhaps goodness and mercy will follow me.

Surely…not I have a hunch goodness and mercy will follow me.

Surely…I have confidence in a Good Shepherd, a shepherd who has taken care of me, a shepherd that loves me, a shepherd that keeps His promises; therefore, I know His goodness and mercy will follow me! This verse is often call the Romans 8:28 of the OT.

King James Version Chapter 8

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Goodness and Mercy

Goodness is the Hebrew word tobe and it is used 560x in OT; 361x translated as good; 72x translated as better 20x translated as goodness; the rest of the times the word is used presents the idea of prosperity.

Mercy is the Hebrew word hay-sed which is used 249x in OT, 149x it is translated as mercy; newer translations translate the word as lovingkindness.

Goodness and mercy must be used together. Why?

Romans 2:4

King James Version Chapter 2

4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Did you get that? God’s goodness leads to repentance. Since God’s goodness leads to repentance, we admit we are a sinner & sinners are in need of mercy. Mercy has 2 components: 1) Forgiveness, God wants to forgive us; no sin is too big to be forgiven. 2) Grace gives us the opposite of what we deserve. Goodness, mercy, forgiveness, all base on God’s love for us. Our responsibility is to repent.

Zechariah 3:3-5

King James Version Chapter 3

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. 4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

In Zechariah’s vision: God removed the filthy clothes which represent sin and put on new garments which represent righteousness; all this accomplished through love and mercy. And He wants to do the same for us.

Follow:

Another interesting word; in the Hebrew it is raa-daf which literally means to pursue. Interesting dichotomy isn’t it. Jesus states in John 6:44-45

King James Version Chapter 6

45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

And in John 6:65

King James Version Chapter 6

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

Both verse state for individuals to come to know Him. He is leading the way, but if He is leading how can He pursue?

Out in the meadow, we have a flock of sheep, a shepherd, and his trusty sheep dog. In a sense, goodness and mercy are God’s sheep dogs.

What is the purpose of a sheep dog? The dog is there to help and not hurt. He is there to round up the stragglers and keep the flock organized esp. when moving from pasture to pasture. He helps the shepherd guide the flock and to provide protection from the predators. Like the first line of defense.

Ever noticed what God does when we begin to stray? He doesn’t yell, he doesn’t throw a brick, he doesn’t send a pit bull after you, and He does not yell “I told you so.”

In my opinion, God’s first line of defense is simply using the Holy Spirit to convict us and to remind us how good God is. One other promise: He will never leave you.

All the days of my life.

David, maybe elderly at this time, is reflecting back over his life…reminiscing , reflecting, remembering-shoulda, woulda, coulda. Can we relate? As he is pondering his life, he can see God’s hand directing him. even in his troubles and desperation he sees God’s goodness and mercy.

We can, will, and do the same; seeing how God’s goodness and mercy followed me and left something productive, beneficial, and worthwhile.

Tennyson wrote a poem detailing how 2 of his friends stayed at his house for a few days. When it was time for them to leave, Tennyson went with them. After a couple of days one of the friends realized he had left his favorite hat at Tennyson’s house. Tennyson wrote to his wife, describing the hat, asking her to locate it and send it to him. After searching thoroughly, she replied by letter. I have searched the house from top to bottom and I can find no trace of the hat. The only thing those 2 left behind was a great blessing.

What about us? When I leave someones presence:

Do I deposit a blessing or a blight?

Does my visit bring pleasure or pain?

Do I leave behind peace or turmoil?

Do I leave behind forgiveness or bitterness?

Do I leave behind contentment or conflict?

Do I leave behind flowers of joy or frustration?

Do I leave behind love or animosity?

If we are pursing the Good Shepherd and goodness and mercy are keeping us in the flock, we should be leaving blessings.