Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. I. THE BLESSINGS HERE ANTICIPATED. "Goodness and mercy." 1. Goodness. The goodness of God is a most delightful and animating theme; it touches every chord of the Christian's heart. "How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for the children of men." 2. Mercy. Pardoning mercy. "Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity," etc. Protecting mercy. The good man has his difficulties and dangers. "Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance," etc. Sustaining mercy. Amid holy enterprises, spiritual conflicts, arduous duties, severe afflictions, trying bereavements, God has sustained His saints. Supplying mercy. "My God shall supply all your need out of His riches in glory by Jesus Christ." But we are prone to look on the dark side of His providence, and to ask, with the murmuring Israelites, "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" II. THE MANNER OF ITS CONVEYANCE. "Shall follow me." As the mother's eye and hand follow her little one as he makes his first wobbling attempt to toddle alone; as the needle follows the lodestone; as the water out of the rock followed the Israelites through the desert; as the pillar of glory went with them by night and by day: so goodness and mercy shall follow the faithful, in the closet, in the family, in the church, in the world. It shall follow incessantly, supply fully, solace richly, sustain powerfully, pass with him through the Jordan, and enter with him the bright portals of glory. Here we have — 1. The continuance of it. All the days of my life — that is, all my life long — even to the last. 2. The certainty of it. "Surely," etc. "Hath He promised, and shall He not bring it to pass?" As sure as you need it, you shall have it; as sure as you require it, you shall realise it: It shall come seasonably at the best time, in the wisest manner, and from the most unexpected quarter. Its certainty is founded upon the Divine existence; its communication upon Divine veracity; its possession is the fruit of immutable, unwavering, undying love. Surely, etc. III. THE CONSUMMATION OF IT. "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. CONCLUSION — 1. Learn to be grateful. Beware of sinking into the vortex of selfishness, and burying your mercies in the grave of forgetfulness. 2. Learn to be trustful. 3. Learn to be active. If you have the pledge that "goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life," should not those days be spent for the glory of Him — whose you are, and whom you serve? Work while it is day. (John Woodcock.) Parallel Verses KJV: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. |
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