Discovering Shalom in an Ancient Poem|Week 8
Finally, we come to the last verse of Psalm 23. I hope you’ll join me for a look at the beautiful conclusion of this ancient Hebrew poem.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23:6 (KJV)
The opening word of Psalm 23:6 is vitally important. “Surely,” translated from the original Hebrew is absolute and without a shadow of doubt. David, the shepherd who became king, had no doubt that God, the metaphorical “good shepherd” about whom he wrote was always good.
Moving on to the next two words, according to Robert Morgan, author of The Lord is My Shepherd – Resting in the Peace and Power of Psalm 23, “The Hebrew word David used refers to goodness in its broadest sense, covering physical, moral, practical, economic, spiritual, emotional, and eternal grace toward us in all dimensions.” Mercy describes God’s forgiving and benevolent nature of kindness. (pp. 167-169)
An age-old question from people who are skeptical about God is, “How could a good God allow suffering and evil?” I believe it’s a legitimate question. I’ve certainly asked more than once, “Why, God?” David also had a whole lot of questions and complaints. In fact, Bible scholars believe he wrote 35 or more psalms of lament.
So, I ask myself as I write this post, how can I and how could David believe wholeheartedly that the Lord, our Shepherd, is in fact “good” and “merciful.” My conclusion is that as we have experienced the reality of the shepherd’s goodness and mercy which we’ve seen never stops “following” us, our faith, despite dark, shadowy circumstances, keeps increasing.
Of course, I am also aware of an advantage I have since I’ve been privileged to discover in the New Testament that Jesus personifies the “Good Shepherd.” He experienced and was victorious over unimaginable suffering. And after he returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit remained to keep leading and following me.
At some point in our journeys, I, along with David, became convinced beyond any doubt that SURELY, goodness and mercy will keep on following us every day of our earthly lives and into eternity where we will dwell into infinity!
As Psalm 23:6 concludes with the assurance of a forever house, I’d like to tell you a story about my dear aunt. Her life from childhood was laced with trauma and tragedy. Yet, because the Good Shepherd never stopped following her, my aunt’s faith was strong in the later years of her life.
Now, she lay dying in a care facility. She was sleeping when I arrived, and that was okay because I simply wanted to sit with this woman I loved. After several minutes, she opened her eyes, and I told her who I was. With a twinkle in her bleary, dying eyes, she excitedly told me about the nice men who were working hard to get a little house ready for her. It was going to be so wonderful, she exclaimed. Each room would be decorated differently, and there was going to be a garden with SO MANY flowers. This, I understood, would be necessary for my aunt, who was a master gardener.
Logically and even theologically I realize our forever home is shrouded in mysteries, which we can “only imagine.” In that brief exchange with my beloved aunt, though, I couldn’t help but wonder if she had been granted a glimpse of the “house of the Lord” in which she would dwell forever.
Perhaps one of these days I will stroll with my aunt around her heavenly garden, listening to her excited and detailed exclamation of each flower. I look forward to that possibility!
Until then, I hope I will be given—and you will be given—the faith necessary to hold firmly to the promise of Psalm 23:6 that Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Blessings on your journey,
