Let’s break this Scripture down: ‘Surely goodness and mercy.’ People may disappoint you, but God’s goodness and mercy are sure things! ‘With [God] there is never the slightest variation or shadow of inconsistency’ (James 1:17 PHPS). Our devotion to God may falter, but His devotion to us never does: ‘If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful’ (2 Timothy 2:13 NLT). David didn’t say, ‘maybe, possibly, I hope so, I have a hunch’. No, he said, ‘Surely’ and that’s a promise you can stand on. ‘Shall follow me.’ That sounds like another promise God made to His people: ‘all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee’ (Deuteronomy 28:2). Note the words: ‘follow, come on, overtake’. You can’t get away from them! God’s goodness and mercy followed Jonah to the bottom of the sea, Daniel into the lions’ den, and John into exile, opening heaven to him.
Stop and look back. Think of the scrapes God’s brought you through, the messes He has helped clean up, the doors He has opened, and what do you see? Blessings you don’t deserve, can’t escape, and are new every morning. With God, it’s a sure thing! ‘All the days of my life.’ Think of the days ahead and what do you see? Days at home raising a family? Days in a dead-end job, struggling to get ahead? Days of loneliness and poor health? Days of caring for a sick loved one? Days of battling disappointment and depression? ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.’ Goodness to provide, and mercy to pardon; you will never have a day without them!
