Psalm 23:1-6 ESV The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
NLT: Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
Meaning of text:
Surely: confidence.
In an age where people believe good vibes or “Mother Earth” and rocks can give you spiritual energy, I think it is important to clarify that David is speaking of God’s goodness and mercy following Him all the days of his life.
What does goodness mean here? The goodness of God is His abundant and faithful care, provision, protection, favor, blessings, and promises to His people. For example, the goodness of God is a promise to those who fear Him. Psalm 34:9 says: Fear the LORD, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need. God’s goodness to mankind and promise to mankind is that those who believe in Jesus will inherit eternal life - John 3:16. This is the goodness of God.
What does mercy mean here? “Mercy or Hesed represents love in action: loyalty, steadfastness, loving-kindness, devotion, faithfulness, mercy, goodness, and being in covenant relationship. It’s not passive but active commitment. This word requires action and commitment and is always something we do—real acts that rescue or uplift people who need help. The relational dynamic is crucial. For hesed to be happening, one party must be in need and the other must choose to supply that need. This kind of love involves helping those who are circumstantially weaker, referring to the relationship in which the stronger person strengthens or rescues the weaker. God, as the stronger party, chooses to meet our need. This isn’t mercy as mere forgiveness, though that’s included. Rather, hesed comes to be seen as the quality in God that directs him to forge a relationship with people who absolutely do not deserve to be in relationship with him. God’s mercy is mediated through the covenant, by which he becomes the God of a people promising protection, provision, guidance, and his constant presence.” -Doreen M. McFarlane, God in Translation: The Theological Gifts of Exploring Biblical Languages (Fortress Press, 2026), 65. John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016). Philip H. Towner, “Mercy,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Baker Reference Library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 521.
God’s Mercy, or unfailing love, is His commitment to showing compassion to us when we could not help ourselves. Mercy is God’s faithful covenant-love to us.
David says God’s goodness and mercy follow me: Instead of being chased or pursued by enemies, like the Israelites were in the desert before the Red Sea. David anticipates God’s goodness and love always pursuing, always with Him.
All the days of my life: This is confidence in the faithfulness, loyalty, and commitment of God.
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
Cultural and Meaning of text:
Keller reminds us that from a sheep’s perspective, this is a reflection on the full round of the year’s activities for the flock. The shepherd has taken us from the green pastures and still waters of the home ranch, up through the mountain passes onto the high tablelands of the summer range. Fall has come with its storms and rain and sleet that drive the sheep down the foothills and back to the home ranch for the long quiet winter. In a sense, this is coming home…It is with a sublime feeling of both composure and contentment that this statement is made: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Keller, pgs 126-127).
Here is a sheep so utterly satisfied with its lot in life, so fully content with the care it receives, so much “at home” with the shepherd that there is not a shred of desire for a change. -Phillip Keller (Keller, pg. 126)
Dwell: The psalmist’s experience of God’s “goodness and love” is equivalent to dwelling “in the house of the Lord.” To eat and to drink at the table prepared by the Lord is a recognition of a covenant bond (cf. Kidner, 1:112). -VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 218). Zondervan Publishing House.
Dwell: In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someone’s table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminating token of a covenant. It was so at the Last Supper‚ when Jesus announced ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood’ (1 Cor. 11:25). So to be God’s guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. It is to live with him. Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 130). InterVarsity Press.
House of the Lord: Here the “house of the LORD” is God’s tabernacle. Later it became the temple built in Jerusalem by Solomon. For the Christian, we have direct access into God’s presence because He has given us the Holy Spirit and made His dwelling among us on earth and Christ is the head of this fellowship, the church. (John 2:19–22; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:20-22).
Forever: For the Hebrews, eternity is not a timeless state, but endless days. Here is where David will be, before the Lord forever and ever. -The Preacher's Commentary, Complete 35-Volume Set: Genesis – Revelation (Function). Kindle Edition.
Forever: This verse points us to our future too. Dwell in the Lord’s house forever is the eternal inheritance and home where we will be with God. This brings up the “already not yet” reality of belonging and dwelling in His kingdom and experiencing His presence now, not just later…
The focus may appear to be on the location, but the goal is dwelling in the fullness of God’s glory and presence forever.
Application:
We can expect the goodness of God
Some Christians live as though trouble is always around the corner. They expect disappointment, anticipate the worst, and live under a cloud of worry about what might happen next. But David teaches us to live with a different expectation.
David lived with an attitude that God’s goodness is with Him wherever he goes. David isn’t merely hoping God will be good to him. He is convinced of it! His confidence isn’t based on what life brings but on who his Shepherd is.
Death and destruction do not follow or pursue us. The spiritual and physical reality is that God’s goodness, mercy, and faithful love pursue and follow us! We can be sure of this no matter what comes our way.
How many Christians actually feel this way about Christ? How many of us are truly convinced that no matter what occurs in our lives, we are being followed by goodness and mercy? Of course it is simple to speak this way when things are going well. But what about when the shadows of our fallen world- sin, persecution, and death begin to loom? When a family member passes, when a job lets you go, or you didn’t get into the university you wanted, or the relationship didn’t work out, friends stop being friendly.
These moments test our belief in this truth. When our small world begins to fall apart around us, do we still believe the goodness and mercy of God follow us? Perhaps God is working out His path for your righteousness and His purpose for your life.
Stop expecting the worst when you belong to a God who promises His best.
What are we anticipating in our daily lives? Are we bracing for conflict? Trouble? Pain? Sorrow? Or are we genuinely expecting God’s goodness, mercy, and love to pursue us? Do we live life with hope and joy or a cloud of despair looming over us?
Our confidence isn’t that everything will be good, but that God will be good to us in everything.
The external doesn’t have to dictate the internal. Ships don’t sink because of the water around them; ships sink because of the water that gets in them. Don’t let what’s happening around you get inside you.
God’s mercy is greater than our mess.
Lamentations 3:19-24 NLT The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
To fulfill His covenant without wiping us off the face of the earth, God showed us mercy by giving the punishment we deserved on Christ.
"Mercy is not getting what you deserve, and grace is getting what you don't deserve."
I think we all should be grateful that God’s mercy follows us all the days of our lives, and it doesn’t run out! Every day we are alive is a new day to live a life that has turned to God and choose to walk a new life. God’s mercy doesn’t wash away every consequence of our mistakes, but it does offer forgiveness, restoration, and hope to those who repent and turn to Him.
Your mess may be part of your story, but God’s mercy can write a different ending.
Home is with God, Now and Forever
Home is where God is. We belong to the fellowship and family of God.
We get to enjoy the fellowship and blessings that come with being in the fellowship and family of God. The table set before us is all the blessings that come from God’s goodness, mercy, and love. God’s table is faithfully there for us each day.
We have received an inheritance stored in heaven for us. We belong spiritually, but God is preparing a physical place for us, and we will dwell with God together.
What about the persecuted church? What about death and sickness and all the destruction going on in our world? God’s goodness and mercy take us home!
1 Peter 1:3-9 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
John 14:1-6 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Revelation 21:1-8 NLT Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. 8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Psalm 23 reminds us of our Lord’s provision, protection, and prosperity for His people throughout life, ultimately leading us home to more than we could think or imagine. God’s goodness and care are eternal and are always there for His people. The Good Shepherd delivers on His promise. Will we live off of God’s goodness and give Him glory? Or will we look to this world and end up empty?
Salvation Prayer
Jesus, I know that I am a sinner in need of Your grace. Today I confess You as my Lord and put my trust in You alone. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and rose again. Thank you for forgiving me and making me new. Lead me as I follow You from this day forward.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Discussion
David confidently declares, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” How does this challenge the way you typically approach life? Do you tend to expect God’s goodness or anticipate that something will go wrong? What influences your expectations?
Pastor Ryan says, “Our confidence isn’t that everything will be good, but that God will be good to us in everything.” What is the difference between these two perspectives?
How can we trust in God’s goodness when He does not answer a prayer the way we hoped or change a difficult situation?
Pastor Ryan explained, “Mercy is not getting what you deserve, and grace is getting what you don't deserve.” How do you see both mercy and grace in your own life?
Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds us that God’s mercies never cease and are new every morning. What does it look like practically to live each day with confidence in God’s mercy rather than being weighed down by guilt, regret, or past mistakes? Is there something from your past that you need to surrender to God?
David declares, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” What does it mean to you personally to belong to God’s family and live in His presence today? How should this reality influence your priorities, relationships, and daily decisions?
Read 1 Peter 1:3–9 or Revelation 21:1–4. How should the promise of eternity with God change the way we face suffering, uncertainty, and even death? What would look different in your life if you lived with greater confidence in this eternal hope?
How can we pray together for you today?
If Jesus isn’t the shepherd of your soul, the Savior and Lord of your life, are you ready to make that decision today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!