Goodness And Mercy Series

Psalms 23:6 Monte T. Brown

Prelude

Our message this evening is titled “Goodness and Mercy,” and as we continue our series “The Lord is My Shepherd,” we come to verse six of the 23rd Psalms.

Verse 6 is the end of Psalms 23, but it is the verse that anchors it all together.

We will address five words that secure the message of the 23rd Psalms, surely, goodness, mercy, dwell, and forever.

Scripture

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalms 23:6 (KJV)

Prayer

Introduction

1. Favor of the Lord follows us. "Surely"

2. Faithfulness of the Lord never fails us. "Surely goodness"

3. Forgives all faults is our assurance from Christ. “Mercy”

4. Fatherhood of the Lord is eternal. "I will dwell"

5. Forever is eternity. “Forever”

These are the key words in verse 6 which we will take examine a little closer.

Verse 6 is the foundation for all of the 23rd Psalms this verse sums up the favor, faithfulness, forgiveness, the fatherhood, and the foreverness of our Shepherd.

Surely Goodness and Mercy

1. Surely

Surely, which means without a doubt, it is an exclamation of confidence.

Not a self-confidence, but Christ confidence, these verses speak of our confidence in Christ.

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; Hebrews 3:14 (KJV)

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Hebrews 3:6 (KJV)

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. 1 John 3:21 (KJV)

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

1 John 5:14 (KJV)

2. Goodness

Goodness and Mercy are attributes of God.

Goodness; meets our needs.

Priesthood provides.

Hebrews 4:14-16 says; 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)

3. Mercy

Mercy; forgives faults is our assurance from Christ.

Mercy; is mentioned over 319 times in the Bible and of that 319 times, 99 times in the Psalms.

It must be important or the Lord wouldn’t have mentioned it so many times.

Psalms 86:15 says; But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalms 100: 5 says; For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalms 118:29 says; O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.

Psalms 118:29 says; Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

And Psalms 118:29 says; Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Because of mercy God came down from heaven to meet with the repentant sinner and grant him forgiveness and peace. Acts 10:34-43

4. Goodness and Mercy

Goodness and Mercy are attributes of God.

Goodness: cares for the temporal. Mercy: -- cares for the spiritual.

Goodness: bounty of God. Mercy: love of God.

Goodness: leads to repentance. Mercy: leads to regeneration.

Goodness: convicts us of sin. Mercy; offers regeneration.

Goodness; caused the prodigal to come back home. Mercy; ran to meet the son.

Goodness; is God's hand. Mercy; is God's heart.

Goodness; his person reveals. Mercy; reveals his pity.

Charles Spurgeon calls Goodness and Mercy two heavenly messengers.

The Shepherd leads us; Goodness and Mercy are the "Rearguards." Shepherd always has two sheep dogs.

So those two sheep dogs that surround us and rest of the flock are Goodness and Mercy the mighty heavenly messengers.

The new life in Jesus Christ brings us justification which means entrance into a new relationship with God and the awesome power of God with to make possible the love, goodness, and holiness that other religions strive for, but only the Christian faith can produce it.

All the Days

"All the days"

1. Spring days and summer days

2. Autumn days and winter days

3. Sundays and fun days

4. Week days and weak days

5. Sunshine days and shadow days