“…surely goodness and mercy shall follow me…”
Who wants to walk through the valley of the shadow of death?
If you raised your hand for the above question and thought, “sign me up,” I would be concerned about your well-being. Yet, believers in Jesus Christ have chosen to follow Him wherever he leads, including in the darkest valleys.
It is not always easy following the Son of God.
The path Christ leads us down could open into a lush green meadow where a banquet table has been prepared on our behalf. Our full attention is on the feast before us and we are enamored by the King of kings, who has invited us to sit and dine with Him. Then we look away from the table to realize the exquisite dining experience is positioned in the middle of a battlefield.
The imagery of Christ as a Good Shepherd leading His sheep is a wonderful depiction of our relationship with God. Psalm 23, one of the most well-known chapters in the Bible, paints this unsettling comforting picture.
Psalm 23 is packed with the symbolism of a loving, caring Shepherd who provides for, relieves discomfort, and restores the souls of his followers. He leads us “in right paths for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3, NRSV).
The Psalmist explains how the Shepherd understands that at points, He must guide His sheep through difficult and dangerous territory to arrive at a place where the sheep will flourish. The sheep willingly follow because, time after time, the Shepherd has protected them and led them safely. The sheep trust the Shepherd.
Humans are not sheep. We have second thoughts with debates on alternate routes and concerns about moving forward.
We consider staying right where we are. We are tempted to look back from where we came from, but when we do look back, will we understand from our perspective or God’s viewpoint?
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23:6, ESV).
What is behind us?
“Surely” is widely used in translating the first part of verse six, but the word has lost its force in modern-day English. The term “surely,” can communicate optional, uncertainty, or hopeful at best. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me; it will, right?
A few translations use “only,” while a few others use “certainly,” and now we are on to something. Put aside any passivity or hesitancy. Goodness and mercy are most assuredly 100% going to follow us.
The Hebrew word for “follow” is radap (raw-daf) and can also be translated as pursue or chase. “Only – goodness and kindness pursue me.” (YLT) Goodness and mercy are not just following us like a puppy dog; they are pursuing us like a lion, a good lion!
What is chasing us?
Goodness and Mercy
The Hebrew word for goodness is “tob” (to-be) and can also be translated as good things, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, kindness, or favor. The Hebrew word for mercy is “hesed” (kheh-sed) which can also be translated as merciful, lovingkindness, beauty, or favor.
Picture ahead of you the backside of the Good Shepherd, with staff in hand; He is confidently walking down the path. Looking beyond the Shepherd, a dark mass of clouds appears to be brewing up an angry storm. The anxiety within begins to rise as choices are deliberated. You whip your head around to consider going back to what your mind tells you is safer and your vision is blocked by two giant entities trying to outrun each other.
Overwhelmed by the enormity of the beauty of God’s kindness and pure grace, your anxiety turns into trust and awe of Christ’s faithfulness to see you through whatever might lie ahead. The pursuit of goodness and mercy has put you at ease. Head held high, you turn back around with confidence and continue to follow the Good Shepherd.
With Christ before us and goodness and mercy behind us, we are surrounded by the best-case scenario.
I pray that the beauty of God’s lovingkindness will blanket your life and that the goodness and mercy of God is the only breath you feel heavy on your neck. May you see with the eyes of Christ more clearly your circumstance and how He is with you. May your eyes remain fixed on the Good Shepherd and walk forward with boldness and confidence. So be it in Jesus’ name.
Meditate: God’s goodness and mercy are pursuing me.
Reflect: When you look back, what do you tend to see? How can your backward viewpoint align more with seeing the goodness and mercy of God? What is your valley? How can the image of the Good Shepherd in front of you and His goodness and mercy behind you encourage you to take another step?
Rooted: Psalm 23, John 10: 1-18, Revelation 7:13-17
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(Bible References: NRSV – New Revised Standard Version, ESV – English Standard Version)
“H2896 – ṭôḇ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 7 Sep, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2896/kjv/wlc/0-1/>.
“H2617 – ḥeseḏ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 7 Sep, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h2617/kjv/wlc/0-1/>.
“H7291 – rāḏap̄ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (kjv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 7 Sep, 2022. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h7291/kjv/wlc/0-1/>.
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