THE HOUND OF HEAVEN!
Psalms 23:6 NLT
[6] “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
Back to Psalm 23! Some of David’s most wonderfully comforting words are clustered together in one psalm, like for example, Psalm 23, Psalm 103, and Psalm 139.
Don’t we love David’s concluding words in Psalm 23? They conjure up a mental picture of two supernatural “angels”, named “Goodness” and “Mercy”, like twe pet dogs, that follow us faithfully wherever we go. They refuse to leave us no matter what our situation or circumstances. They are always there to comfort, strengthen, and provide for all our needs. They are God’s messengers, not God Himself but…
Hebrews 1:14 NLT
[14] “Therefore, angels are only servants—spirits sent to care for people who will inherit salvation.”
Apart from these ministering angels, who provide protection in every situation…
God’s own presence is always with us…
Psalms 139:7-10 NLT
[7] “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! [8] If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. [9] If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, [10] even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.”
…never to spy on us, as some people think, but to strengthen, support and bless us.
Have you ever considered that God has provided us with a bodyguard more powerfully efficient than the best-trained humans can ever be? His powerful ministering angels take care of our safety and provide everything we need, and His own presence guards and protects us from the perils of lies and deception that our enemy tries to impress on us?
2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
[3] “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.”
Not only do we have God Himself all around us, but we also have His Word as a powerful set of armour, defensive and offensive weapons to take care of all the fiery darts hurled at us. Like the Israelis’ “iron dome”, we are shielded on all sides from the enemy’s missiles.
Psalms 91:9-12 NLT
[9] “If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, [10] no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home. [11] For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. [12] They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.”
God has also provided a full set of armour, like the armour of an ancient Roman soldier, that covers us from head to foot and that enables us to ward off every temptation and every accusation the enemybl hurls at us to throw us off course.
Ephesians 6:11-13 NIV
[11] “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. [12] For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. [13] Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Our spiritual armour is defensive since Jesus has already conquered Satan for us. Our role is only to stand our ground on the truth and never give way to his assault on our minds and hearts.
As much as “goodness” and “mercy”, accompany us on our journey, watching our backs and keeping the enemy at bay, so also are they the very presence of God to lavish His grace and favour on us simply because we are His children.
Romans 8:32 NIV
[32] “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Through Jesus, our Saviour, High Priest, and Mediator, we have everything we need and more through the Father’s “great and precious promises” guaranteed by the Son Himself.
2 Corinthians 1:20 NIV
[20] “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
All we need to do to trigger their fulfilment is to say a hearty “Amen!”
God’s children are neither orphans nor paupers. In Christ Jesus, we are fully supplied, carefully guarded, deeply loved, and highly favoured.
So, let’s live as His beloved sons and daughters in the abundance of His goodness and mercy.