These very familiar words of the sweet psalmist of Israel, king David, in this well known psalm, call our attention, very forcibly, to the great doctrine of God's special providence over the entire affairs of men.
We learn here that:
[1] This special providential care of God is solely directed towards His redeemed people. It is not common to all men and women. It is belongs exclusively to the redeemed.
[2] That this special providential care is characterised by the twin themes of goodness and mercy.
These words in Ps 23:6 also call our attention to the great climax of this continual exercise of divine providence. God's goodness and mercy are leading us on to inherit eternal glory and to the Father's house on high. The path of the just is ever upward. We are journeying to the realms of eternal day.
These words are surely an expression of David's confidence and joy in knowing the Lord. The Psalmist has a strong assurance of his own participation in this everlasting state that God has prepared for all who know and love Him dearly.
He has spoken of the Lord's presence being with him as he descends the valley of the shadow of death. His confidence is expressed in those words: I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me, v4.
The Psalmist is full of that scriptural grace called 'Hope'.
Consider the harvest of a life of self denial. |
