Psalm 23:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

NIV: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

NASB: Certainly goodness and faithfulness will follow me all the days of my life, And my dwelling will be in the house of the Lord forever.

CSB: Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

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.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

David expresses his conviction in this verse that the Lord's goodness will be with him throughout his life. Whether green pastures and still waters lay ahead, or David was required to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord's goodness would accompany him.

Over the years of his long life David had found that God is good all the time. Further, the Lord's unfailing love would be present with him every step of life's journey. Paul encourages us in Romans 8:38–39 to count on God's love in all of life's circumstances. Nothing can separate us from His unfailing love. We can use trials to make us more aware of God's love so that we grow, rather than become bitter. David anticipated that at the end of his life he would enter heaven—the house of the LORD—and live there forever.

Having the Lord as our shepherd makes life worthwhile and blessed, and when our journey on earth ends we will enter heaven to live with our Shepherd forever (John 14:3). Revelation 7:16–17 promises that in heaven believers will never hunger or thirst or suffer again, "For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Psalm 23:4–6 shifts in mood from the tranquility portrayed in verses 1–3. It is a somber passage, but carries the assurance that the Lord protects His sheep and fills their days with His blessings. This passage differs from the first three verses by addressing the Lord, David's shepherd, directly. In verses 1–3 David talks about the Lord, but in verses 4–6 he talks to the Lord.

David celebrates the protection and guidance of God. Sheep guarded by a skilled shepherd are led to food and water, and protected from harm. In the same way, David praises God for giving him peace. The knowledge of God's protection and provision are a great comfort. This psalm incorporates themes of supply, defense, assurance, and care from God.

This psalm lies between Psalm 22, which depicts Jesus as suffering, and Psalm 24 which depicts Him as sovereign. Psalm 23 depicts Christ as the all-sufficient shepherd. The psalms together focus on the shepherd's cross, his crook, and his crown. In John 10, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd, echoing many of the themes explored in this passage.

The book of Psalms is composed of individual songs, hymns, or poems, each of which is a ''Psalm'' in and of itself. These works contain a wide variety of themes. Some Psalms focus on praising and worshipping God. Others cry out in anguish over the pain of life. Still other Psalms look forward to the coming of the Messiah. While some Psalms are related, each has its own historical and biblical context.