“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Such familiar words. I’ve had Psalm 23 memorized for several years, and I’m sure many, many others know it.
He leads me.
He restores my soul.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I won’t fear because He is with me.
He prepares a table before me.
He anoints my head with oil.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: …”
There is a certainty in what David is declaring here. It’s not based on a feeling or a good circumstance. It’s based on what David knows to be unchanging truth. There aren’t many sure things in this world. But God’s love and goodness are something we can absolutely count on to be there with us. . . to follow us.
Lysa TerKeurst, Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely
That word follow in the original Hebrew is radaph, meaning “to pursue” or “chase.” God’s goodness and love will run after us all the days of our lives. How tragic that when we chase something in this world, we’re actually running away from the stable trust and secure love our souls long for the most. Our souls were created to be pursued and fulfilled by God’s love and goodness. …
His love pursues us. Chases us. Runs after us. Aims to secure us.
Even when we run away.
Even when we chase other things.
Even when we ignore or forget it.
Even when we think we’re too far gone.
His love is there. He is there.
Following. Pursuing. Running. Wooing. Waiting.
Every step. Every breath.
Closer than you realize–even when He feels far, far, far away.
We so often don’t see, don’t comprehend. There are several reasons for that, but I think a very big one is that we’re not still.
We’re busy. We fill every moment with something, whether it’s with people or noise or being on a screen or-or something. We rarely sit in silence and stillness and simply being.
Be still, and know that I am God…
Psalm 46:10 (KJV)
… my soul was forced to be still. And as I got still, the Lord’s pursuit of me became increasingly clear.
Lysa TerKeurst, Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely
Stop running. Be still and know. His goodness and mercy and love are chasing after you.
“…and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
I love that meaning, the depths of the Hebrew language. God definitely pursues us.Surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life.
Keep up the good work. Love you, Mom
I love the depth of the Hebrew language too and want to find out more. Love you too!