Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the LORD’s house for the rest of my life.
Psalm 23:6 NET
This verse sits at the end of the 23rd Psalm, likely one of the most familiar passages in the Bible. And it is an expression of confidence and trust in God.
The psalmist closed by expressing his confidence that God’s goodness and faithfulness would pursue him throughout his life. Many translations express this as God’s goodness and love (or mercy) following him. But the Hebrew word ”rādap” is better translated as pursue.
Rādap is typically used to refer to chasing done by an enemy. But in this passage, it is God who is doing the chasing. And instead of chasing with the intent to harm us, he is chasing to do us good.
The word the NET translates as faithfulness is “ḥesed.” This word has the idea of unfailing or loyal love, especially in a covenant relationship. It is a committed, loving relationship with another.
The psalmist expressed his confidence that God was chasing after him, wherever he went, to embrace him in love and goodness. And if the Lord is your shepherd (John 10:2-5), this is true of you as well.
God is not a stern parent punishing every infraction or grudgingly handing out gifts to his children. Instead, he is chasing after his people, showering us with his goodness and covenant love. He wants us to know and experience his love. God loves us more than we can imagine, and he pursues us with his goodness and love.
