Surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 EHV
If you currently attend or have ever attended a traditional Christian church, chances are you sang a hymn written from this particular verse. But the song probably didn’t go exactly like this.
In the short testimony I recorded recently and shared here, I confessed to struggling to feel God’s kindness to me. And during that time I came across the version of Psalm 23:6 written above. Now the Evangelical Heritage Version of the Bible is not one I have on my shelf. I had actually never heard of it before, but I needed this translation. Having always heard before that “surely goodness and mercy will follow me”, the idea of God’s goodness pursuing me captured my imagination. This wording helped me visualize God’s lovingkindness in a much more active role. And I needed that reassurance. I wrote the verse down in my journal and continue to rewrite it every week. This reminder that God’s goodness and kindness were for me – and many others I found – helped to eventually restore me to joy.
Maybe the word “follow” is a better translation from the original language. I say “maybe” because I don’t really know, but I can get behind this version for one simple reason. The entire Bible is the story of God’s pursuit of us. From His visit to the Garden to search for Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:9) to sending His only Son to take the punishment for our wrongdoing (John 3:16) to His promise to come back for us and be with us forever (John 14:2-3). AND everything in between.
In Luke 15:4, the Lord is portrayed as a shepherd (just as he is in the beginning of the 23rd Psalm) who would leave 99 sheep to search for one who was lost. We must choose Him, but He doesn’t let us get away without a passionate pursuit. And who doesn’t like to be pursued? By the God of the universe, no less. He created us, He loves us, and He wants us. In this world that is still so full of uncertainty, I find great comfort in this. In Him.
According to Psalms 23:6, God’s goodness, grace and love stay closer to me than my freckles for as long as I live, and then they escort me to rest in His heaven in the next.
I’ll close with the same verse I started with, from The Passion Translation. I’ll be clutching these pearls close to my heart:
So why would I fear the future?
For your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life.
Then afterward, when my life is through,
I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you!
And now for this week’s featured post!
Deborah Haddix drew me into her 13 Practical Ways We Can Honor Mom. I sometimes get caught up in thinking I have to spend a lot of money or find just the right thoughtful present, but what moms really want (myself included) is relationship. And you can check off this list whether you get to physically see your mom right now or not. You can gift these sweet things whether you have much or are financially strapped. I can’t think of a better way to love mom!
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Heather Hart & Valerie Riese
Maree Dee
Lauren Sparks
Lisa Burgess
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Perfect pearls to be clutching to your heart!
Yes!
I love that God pursues us. I couldn’t do life without Him.
Agreed, Maree!
I always loved that verse about the good shepherd who would leave 99 sheep to search for the 1 that was lost <3
Me too. And now the song by Cory Asbury. If you haven’t heard “Reckless Love”, listen!
Such a good reminder! I JUST finished reading an amazing book called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 and the last chapter was on v6 that you highlighted. I think you’d enjoy the book very much, as the whole Psalm looks at God’s kindness as a Shepherd and how that is reflected through a diligent shepherd’s care for his sheep. I have been posting my favorite insights from each chapter, if you are interested! I will link my most recent one. It is a book I have read at least 3 times and still get encouraged in every season, especially in this uncertain pandemic season!
That book sounds very good. I will visit your site and check out the book. Thank you, Elena!
Our God is a good shepherd indeed- pursuing us and caring for us. Thanks for sharing!
You said it all in one sentence, Kristin. All the important stuff anyway.
I have heard a similar translation somewhere and was taken with it as well. It’s so timely to be reminded of it right now with all that’s happening in our world. Thanks for sharing a bit of your testimony.
Thanks for reading along with me, Donna.
Humming a song in my head now with that verse. 🙂 I LOVE that goodness and mercy follow us everywhere we go. I need it; I need Him!
Yes!!! Me too, Lisa.