“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Our Good Shepherd loves leading His sheep and walking in front of them. The sheep follow him, and behind them are two sheep dogs named Goodness and Mercy, keeping the sheep close to the shepherd. Our Good Shepherd keeps us close to Himself through His beautiful goodness and mercy.
Everything good in our lives comes from the hand of God. “Goodness is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we think we do deserve.” (Pastor Colin Smith) If God was chasing after you with judgment and condemnation, you would run very fast. But you will not run away when you are being chased by goodness and mercy because they help to bring you close to Jesus.
“SURELY goodness and mercy…” Surely means for certain, for sure. Jesus leads us “surely” with confidence and assurance. We are encircled with Christ’s love. I quote words of a famous hymn which St Patrick wrote – “Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me…”
NOTHING can separate us from the love of Christ. He will look after us always. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life…” Some versions say “length of days.” David looked beyond the days of his life in this present world, and he saw what follows – the joy of eternity in the immediate presence of the Lord. Dwelling with the Lord will be wonderfully better than the greatest joys any of us have known in this life.
What will it be like to dwell in the House of the Lord FOREVER? God will wipe all tears from our eyes, and we will see God in ALL His glory to worship and praise Him always…what joy! Revelation 7:17 says, “For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’” Our Good Shepherd became the LAMB, led to the slaughter, giving His life for us. Now He is our King and Redeemer, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, giving us, His sheep, the opportunity to live with Him forever and ever once we leave this earthly world. Hallelujah! What a Saviour!
Precious, blessed Good Shepherd, you say in John 10:27 – “My sheep hear and listen to My voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Please give us attentive ears and hearts that can listen carefully to Your voice, and obey and follow you, with Goodness and Mercy guiding us. Thank You for being the Lamb upon the Throne, for making us a part of Your flock. Thank You for protecting us and for lifting us up when we fall, for comforting and loving us when we feel lonely or forgotten, and for guiding us in Your paths of righteousness. We love and praise and thank You.
Myrtle Turunen