Our reading today is 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.”
David closes his beloved psalm with confidence, not uncertainty. Notice that word—surely. He is not hoping or guessing. He is declaring a truth that cannot fail: God’s goodness and mercy will follow him. The image is of two faithful companions, never leaving his side, pursuing him through every valley, every meadow, every moment of his journey.
And this is not a sometime blessing. David says it will be true “all the days of my life.” On the bright days of joy, God’s goodness is there. On the dark days of sorrow, His mercy holds us steady. In seasons of health, success, or abundance—He is present. In times of sickness, loss, or failure—He does not leave.
But David does not stop with life on earth. With his final words he lifts his eyes to eternity: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” What began with green pastures and still waters ends with the promise of eternal fellowship with God. The Shepherd who walks with us now will welcome us home then. For the believer, death is not the end—it is simply the doorway into His eternal presence.
I’m Lonnie Davis, and these are thoughts worth thinking.