“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” – Psalm 23:6
Psalm 23 holds a special place in the hearts of many, cherished for its comforting words and profound insights into the nature of our Creator. It is more than just verses to recite; it offers a glimpse into the relentless pursuit of God's goodness and mercy in our lives.
Consider verse 6, where David speaks of goodness and mercy following him all the days of his life. In English, “follow” may seem passive, but the original Hebrew word, “radaph (,רָדַף)” paints a vivid picture of pursuit—chased down with intent, or in other words, to hunt down.
The first time we see this word appear in Scripture is in Genesis 14 where Abram (later known as Abraham) learns of his nephew Lot's abduction. Mobilizing a force comprising 318 men, Abram relentlessly chased the captors as far as Dan (Genesis 14:14). Moses writes this verse using the Hebrew word “radaph” to describe this pursuit. Much like Abram's determined pursuit of justice for Lot, the Psalmist, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, assures us that God's goodness and mercy will chase after and overtake us.
Hebrew Scholar Chad Bird captures this exact idea when he says:
“The goodness and mercy of God doesn't follow us like a good little puppy dog. They gallop after us like a celestial stallion. They chase us down paths like the hound of Heaven. They stay hot on our heels. The goodness and mercy of our Shepherd ‘radaph’ us all the way to Heaven's gate and into the arms of our Father.”
In Psalm 23, David finds assurance that God remains steadfastly committed to him despite his flaws and failures. Likewise, we can find comfort in knowing that God feels the same way about us.
So let us rest in the assurance that we need not seek God's goodness, for it is already hunting us down, ready to lead us home.
Guided Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
As we come before you in prayer, we’re reminded of the beautiful truth revealed in Psalm 23. You are our Shepherd, and Your goodness and mercy pursue us relentlessly, like a faithful companion never leaving our side.
Lord, we confess that at times we may feel unworthy of Your pursuit, but we thank You for reminding us that Your grace knows no bounds. Empower us to walk boldly in the knowledge of Your steadfast love, confident in Your promise to never leave or forsake us.
May we always be mindful of Your presence, trusting in Your goodness and mercy each step of the way.
We pray this in the name of Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Amen.