By: Welton Watson, Pastor, Central Baptist Church
Psalm 23 is probably the most quoted chapter in the Bible. Most funeral obituary flyers have it printed on the back leaf. Within this Psalm are volumes of truth and promises that belong to those who claim the Lord as Savior and Lord.
“The Lord is my shepherd.”
This implies personal relationship and ownership. He’s mine, and I’m His. When doubting Thomas saw the wounds in Christ’s hands and side after the resurrection, he fell at Jesus’ feet and cried “My Lord and my God.” From that day on, he never doubted who he belonged to. I say he went from doubting Thomas to believing Thomas.
I don’t have time, or space in this article to point out all the promises in this short Psalm; so, I’ll skip to verse 6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” I see in the first part of this verse, His Ever Abiding Presence – all the days of my life. In Hebrews 13:5 Jesus said “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” and then, in Matthew 28:20 “and, lo, I am with thee alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
In His presence is... His power, His provision, and His protection. Wherever I go and whatever I do, His goodness and mercy shall follow me. From the very moment of my salvation, He sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise that I will never be alone nor forsaken; Ephesians 1:12 - 14 “That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13. In whom ye also trusted, after ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.”
I may get out of His will, but I can never get out of His presence or His care while in this earthly life.
Finally, the last part of the verse says, “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
When it’s all over down here, I have an eternal home over there in the Father’s house. Jesus said in John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” I am safe and secure until He comes for me, or calls me according to 1 Peter 1:4, 5 “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” What a wonderful promise!!!