Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalms‬ ‭23:6.

A brief background:

Psalm 23 is a well known and popular psalm/hymn among the Christians; some even asking their children to learn it by heart. The Psalm speaks of the relationship a sheep 🐑 has with its Shepherd and the blessings it enjoys while walking with its Master. Having said that, even King David enjoyed his relationship with the Shepherd - the Lord of hosts. He was a witness to how God led him right from his childhood to the time he became a king!

Fine...! Let’s now look at how Goodness follows us when we take the Lord as our Good Shepherd!

• When we have the fear of God in us — People who fear God and walk in His ways, their soul shall dwell at ease! What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. Psalms‬ ‭25:12-13‬. ‘Ease’ here refers to Goodness. To fear God means to realise His great Love and Power! The fear of the Lord is clean; there is no fear in Love because perfect love casts out fear.
• When our sins are forgiven — Sin separates us from God; it makes us go far away from Him. In other words, the spirit of backsliding attacks and pulls us away from our Shepherd. Isaiah 59:2. Nevertheless the moment we realise our sins and transgressions and decide to come back like the Prodigal Son in Luke 15 to our Heavenly Father; the Lord will then forgive us our sins and accept us once again. Psalms 103:3-5.
• When we trust Him, goodness follows — To trust means to have faith. The Scripture exhorts us in various places to trust God and not worry about anything. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose trust the Lord is. Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalms‬ ‭31:19‬

• When we seek Him — Jesus promised, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬. Yes you read that right! When we seek the Lord with all of our heart, mind , soul and strength, He will be found of us. The Word of God is filled with examples of people who sought the Lord, and did not return empty handed. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. Psalms‬ ‭34:10‬.

(... to be continued)