Psalms 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,.... Either the free grace, love, favour, and mercy of God in Christ, which endures continually, and is always the same from everlasting to everlasting; or

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. Surely goodness , [ 'ak (H389)] - rather, 'only;' i:e., nothing but goodness. Shall follow me.

Goodness and mercy, i.e. God’ s favour, and the blessed and comfortable effects and benefits of it. Shall follow me; by which emphatical expression he signifies God’ s admirable freeness and readiness to do good to his people, and his preventing them with blessings. All the days of my life; which he justly concludes from the former instances of God’ s favour to him because of the unchangeableness of God’ s nature, and the stability of his covenant and promises. Whereas I have formerly been driven from God’ s house, I rest assured that I shall now constantly enjoy that blessed privilege of serving and enjoying God in his sanctuary, which I prize more than all my dominions

Psalms 23:6 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.Ver. 6. Surely goodness and mercy, &c.] Utique bonitas et beneficentia, or, as Tremellius hath it, Nihil nisi bonum et benignitas, Nothing but goodness and lovingkindness, &c. This is his good assurance of God’ s favour for the future, grounded upon God’ s promise; whereby he was well assured that mercy should follow him, though he should be so foolish as to run from it; like as the sun, going down, followeth the passenger that goeth eastward, with his beams. And I will dwell, &c.] Devoted to his fear, I will stick to him in life, in death, and after death. Apprehensions of mercy in God must work resolutions of obedience in us.

(6) I will dwell.—As the text stands it must be translated I will return (and abide) in the house of Jehovah.The house of the Lord can hardly be anything but the Temple; though some commentators treat this even as figurative of membership in the Divine family.

Verse 6. Goodness and mercy shall follow me] As I pass on through the vale of life, thy goodness and mercy shall follow my every step; as I proceed, so shall they. There seems to be an allusion here to the waters of the rock smitten by the rod of Moses, which followed the Israelites all the way through the wilderness, till they came to the Promised Land. God never leaves his true followers providential mercies gracious influences, and miraculous interferences, shall never be wanting when they are necessary. I will dwell in the house, ושבתי veshabti, "and I shall RETURN to the house of the Lord," for ever, לארך ימים leorech yamim, "for length of days." During the rest of my life, I shall not be separated from God's house, nor from God's ordinances; and shall at last dwell with him in glory. These two last verses seem to be the language of a priest returned from captivity to live in the temple, and to serve God the rest of his life. ANALYSIS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM The scope of this Psalm is to show the happiness of that man who has God for his protector, and is under his care and tuition. To illustrate this protection, c., David proposes two allegories: the one of a shepherd the other of a free-hearted man given to hospitality, and entertaining his guests bountifully. It has two parts: the first sets forth, 1. God's care in providing him with all necessaries, Psalms 23:1-4. 2. His liberality in supplying him with all that he needed, Psalms 23:5. The second part shows his confidence in God's grace, and his thankfulness, Psalms 23:6. I. He begins the first with this position, "God is my shepherd;" and upon it infers, "Therefore I shall not want." He will do for me what a good shepherd will do for his sheep. 1. He will feed me in green pastures, Psalms 23:2. 2. He will there provide for my safety: "He makes me to lie down." 3. He will provide waters of comfort for me. 4. These waters shall be gently-flowing streams, still waters-not turbulent and violent. 5. He will take care to preserve me in health; if sick, he will restore me. 6. He goes before and leads me, that I may not mistake my way: "He leads me in paths of righteousness," which is his love; for it is "for his name's sake." 7. He restores. If I err and go astray, and walk through the valley of the shadow of death, (for a sheep is a straggling creature,) I will fear no evil: for his rod and staff comfort me; his law and his Gospel both contribute to my correction and support. Thus, as a good Shepherd, he supplies me with necessaries, that I want nothing: but over and above, as a bountiful Lord, he has furnished me copiously with varieties which may be both for ornament and honour. 1. He has prepared a table for me - and that in the presence of my enemies.

6. Surely] Or, as R.V. marg., only. Nothing but goodness and mercy shall pursue me. What a contrast to the lot of the wicked man, pursued by the angel of judgment (Psalms 35:6), hunted by calamity (Psalms 140:11). And I will dwell] The text as it stands would mean, and I will return [to dwell] in the house of the Lord. But a comparison of Psa 27:4 leaves no doubt that we should read shibhtî or regard shabhtî as an exceptional form for it, and explain, and my dwelling shall be &c. Clearly the words are to be understood figuratively, and not of actual residence within the precincts of the temple. Cp. Psalms 36:8. for ever] Lit. for length of days. The blessing of long life (Psalms 21:4) is crowned by the still greater blessing of the most intimate fellowship with God.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me - God will bestow them upon me. This is the “result” of what is stated in the previous verses.

6. Goodness and mercy—From a retrospect of God’s faithful love and care, David gathers assurance of perpetual “goodness and mercy.” Dwell in the house of the Lord for ever—Hebrew, for length of days; for days without number.