Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. Psalms 23:6 NRSV
Have you ever noticed how people carry themselves when they are confident? Not only is their back straight and chin up, but there's something about their whole demeanor that exudes certainty and purposefulness. These outward signs of confidence are manifestations of an inward belief.
Today's verse leaves no doubt of David's faith. We can imagine him standing ramrod straight as he avows "surely,"—not "maybe" or "I hope"—he will be pursued now and in the future by God's goodness and mercy. He recalls God's choosing him from humble beginnings, his defeat of Goliath, and his countless deliverance from his enemies. In this reflection, he can speak with authority.
We, too, can speak confidently; other than slaying a giant, we can make the same claims as David. God brought us from humble beginnings, our sin-sickened condition, into a state of righteousness, redeemed by his blood. Daily he delivers us from the enemies of evil and darkness. Standing erect with heads held high, we can state with surety God is with us. Emboldened by this faith, we can easily pledge our fidelity and obedience to our Lord.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your continual goodness and mercy. We thank your Son Jesus, who redeemed us, and the Holy Spirit that delivers us. Help us to stand confidently in our faith and be submissive to your will. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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