Psalm 23 6 Commentary: Finally at the end of Psalm 23 David ends the psalm with a note of thankful contentment in verse 6.
6 Surely [your…] goodness and [mercy/lovingkindness/faithfulness] [shall follow/will pursue] me all the days of my life:
and I will [dwell/live] in the house of the LORD for [ever/the rest of my life].
Psalm 23 6 Commentary: Goodness and Mercy Following
It’s typical that a predatory animal might follow or pursue a sheep. But what is it that David says follows and pursues him? God’s goodness and mercy (chesed). Not something bad but something very good. It pursues him. For his whole life.
Psalm 23 6 Commentary: Christ Follows Us
And for those of us who know Christ, we have this kind of never-ending relationship with the Lord that’s marked by goodness and loyal love. We have Christ’s promise to be with us always. We have the promise that he will never leave nor forsake us. We are assured of his goodness and mercy.
Psalm 23 6 Commentary: Heaven
And then the last line of verse 6 reminds us of heaven. Now, in context, the sheep here is apparently returning to the shepherd’s house. In David’s mind this is speaking of his ability to be in God’s temple in Jerusalem. For us, I suppose we could apply it to the blessings we experience in God’s church. And yet I think we can’t miss the fact that we who trust in Christ are guaranteed to be with our Good Shepherd forever. In that sense we will dwell in his house forever – not just in this life but for eternity.
Return to our Psalm 23 Commentary article.

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