All of us can claim the followers I value most (Psalm 23, Part 5)

By Dean Collins

Who is following me?

Before 2005 if someone talked about their followers you would have probably smiled and made sure the exit was clear because of fear they were some kind of cult leader. No one talked about who they were following, and we didn’t keep count of such things. But in the age of social media, everything is about how to attract more followers.

I don’t pay much attention to who is following me in social media, so I decided to look this morning. My wife and I share a Facebook page, and we have 984 friends. I glanced at Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and there were more than double that number between them. Some probably overlap. If you read my devotionals sometimes or regularly, I guess you are a follower as well. I’m amazed and grateful for friends like you who keep up with me.

Following me . . . and you!

It’s a good thing I don’t make all my decisions about life based on who chooses to follow me in social media or I would have been crushed when I checked this morning. I was looking for two names in particular, and they weren’t there. I guess these two must not be into social media. I had read that they were following me. The truth is they were chasing after me. My source told me these two were following, and my source is very reliable, so I assume these two follow me in a different way, outside the framework of social media.

I will let you in on a secret: These two are following you as well! This is great news for all of us, because these two are determined and never give up on us. Their desire to help, guide, bless, assist, and enrich our lives is better than a million social media followers. Their names—you’ve probably already figured it out—Goodness and Mercy. According to our trusted friend David, there is no hesitation from these two. He makes this clear in the last verse of Psalm 23, the final word of assurance from our encourager.

Pursuing us . . . always!

Goodness and Mercy will follow us and not just for an hour or when they become distracted. They don’t get distracted from their mission like we often do. “Surely” they pursue and chase us. Not “maybe.” David often talked about enemies and difficulties that chased him, but these two are chasing us to make sure we know God overcomes all others who pursue us for evil or discouragement.

Goodness and Mercy won’t stop. They are in for the long haul. They will follow us every day for the rest of our lives. Their pursuit will sometimes help us forget everything else and rest as if we are already in our permanent dwelling place of eternity.

They are in for the long haul. They will follow us every day for the rest of our lives.

When we draw close to our good shepherd, the shadows of dark and lonely days fade away. Evil loses its grip on us. Fear abandons us. Suffering loosens its hold in the presence of the best shepherd, our Lord.

And then one day, sooner or later but absolutely certain, we will dwell with Jesus in Heaven on a fully restored earth made whole for us. There we will reunite with loved ones and develop relationships with others we’ve only read about. We will play, rest, work, create, and enjoy full and forever life together.

And we will thank these two followers, Goodness and Mercy for never leaving us.

Psalm 23:6

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (ESV).
”Yes, goodness and commitment pursue me all the days of my life. I shall go back to Yahweh’s house for long days” (The First Testament).

Your time with God’s Word
Psalm‬ ‭23:1-6‬; 28:7-9‬, ‭ESV‬‬

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