“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6
What is the basis for the unquenchable assurance of David that what he describes in Psalm 23 will be his experience all the days of his life and forever?
In the last verse of Psalm 23, David puts his relationship with his Shepherd-God in perspective. It is the Shepherd Who gets David’s attention then makes him lie down and say, “baa,” confessing that he is a sheep and the Lord is his shepherd.
It is his Shepherd Who makes David lie down where green pastures are and then leads him beside still waters. It is David’ Shepherd Who uses His staff when David strays from Him, then drives him into the paths of righteousness that restore his soul.
It is his Shepherd-God Who initiates these interventions in David’s life.
As David walks through the valley of the shadow of death, his confidence is not in his own ability as a warrior. His confidence is clearly in his Shepherd. As David walks through this dark and scary valley, he is looking to his Shepherd-God for protection and provision.
He knows his Shepherd will anoint him with oil and keep the cup running over within him. The source of David’s assured confidence is clearly seen in this translation of the last verse,
“Kindness and faithful love pursue me every day of my life.”
Dick Woodward, Psalm 23 Sheep Talk
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