God's Glory Church

“Only kindness and mercy will accompany me all the days of my life.” — Psalm 22:6

One day I was walking down the street and another man was walking a block away. He had several packages in his hands. Suddenly he tripped and fell. Passers-by helped him to get up and collect the scattered things. However, they did not notice something – a wallet that was left on the sidewalk. I picked it up and ran after the stranger to give him this surely important item. “Sir! Sir!” I called and finally got his attention. He turned back just as I ran up to him. I will never forget his look, in which surprise changed to joyful gratitude.

At first I was just following this person, but then my following turned into stalking. In the final verse of Psalm 22 it is said: “Only goodness and mercy will accompany me” (v. 6). The word “accompany” fits well with the overall context of the passage, but the original Hebrew word has a more dynamic meaning. It literally means “to pursue or pursue,” like a predator hunting prey (think, for example, of a wolf chasing a sheep).

God’s goodness and mercy do not follow us slowly, like a dog lazily following its master. No, they’re after us! As I overtook a passer-by to give him a wallet, so the Good Shepherd, Who loves us with eternal love, overtook us (vv. 1, 6).

Do you believe that God’s mercy is really “pursuing” you? If not, then why does the Bible use this word?

Good Shepherd, thank you that Your goodness and mercy always follow me.

Author: John Blaze