“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (Psalm 23:6)
With one of my prayer partners this week we dwelt for a while on this verse from the familiar psalm. Our discussion was prompted by the meaning of the Hebrew word for ‘follow’: ירדפוני jirdepuni. It has always brought to mind for me the pastoral image of a pair of working sheepdogs following a shepherd, protectively poised and ready to respond to the shepherd’s call to work with the flock. But jirdepuni is not a word of passive or gentle or subservient accompaniment at all. Goodness and love do not follow us like faithful hounds. The word strongly implies active pursuit. Literally: goodness and love “pursue” me or run after me. There is something joyous, live, active, stronger and more exhilarating about that thought.
This then reminded us of the lyrics of Bethel Music’s song, ‘Your goodness is running after me.’ There is a sense of the delight as the goodness and love of God run with us into the adventure of each day. After the journey through the darkest valley in the shadow of death comes this image of exuberance and release and freedom. Our discussion moved on and linked this image of fleet-footed goodness and mercy running after us to Psalm 121: the God Who is always alert and always watching over us.
And now I have a new image when I read Psalm 23:6. ‘Goodness’ and ‘Love’ are no longer two working dogs circling around me but two burly, fearsome bodyguards or angel-warriors – with a surprising turn of speed! – keeping pace with me at my right and left shoulders.
Whether your journey today is through a deep valley or a bright mountain pass, may Goodness and Love pursue you every step of the way.