The Shepherd and His Sheep: Psalm 23:6

This journey through Psalm 23 has taken us from an introduction to the Shepherd, to obedience to the Shepherd, to the restoring and discipline of the Shepherd, to walking in deep and dark places with the Shepherd, to being anointed by the Shepherd. And now, in this final verse, we see the ultimate truth: the Shepherd will see us all the way home.

I believe verse six is a testimony of faith. It is a verse of trust in what God has done and what He will continue to do. It is a verse of confidence in our Jehovah Rohi—the Lord our Shepherd.

1. The Confidence in This Verse

David says: “Surely… shall follow… I will… forever.”

These are words of promise, expectation, trust, assurance, and faith. David’s life had been up and down—he had been poor and rich, strong and weak, faithful and unfaithful—but one thing he knew for certain: God would take him all the way home.

God would never leave him, never forsake him, never abandon him, and never let him down.

David used the word “surely.” What a strong word! Today, I cannot promise you health, wealth, or ease of life. I cannot promise you fewer valleys than others or fewer enemies along the way. But I can promise you this: if you know the Shepherd, He will take care of you.

2. The Companions in This Verse

“Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

I don’t believe we can understand God’s goodness apart from His mercy, nor His mercy apart from His goodness. Romans 2:4 says that “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.”

If people would pause to see all that God has done for them—all the times He blessed them, all the times He spared them—they would be moved to repentance. Truly, God has been both good and merciful in our lives.

David’s picture here is not an accident. Shepherds often had sheepdogs following behind the flock. These dogs protected from the rear, kept sheep corralled, and alerted the shepherd of danger. The sheep felt safe because the dogs were near. The dogs could fight, warn, and guide.

So it is with us. God’s sheepdogs are goodness and mercy.

• W.M. Thompson said: “While God walks before us, His dogs of goodness and mercy follow us.”

• Guy King said: “He, the Lord, is in front, His sheepdogs are behind, and we, His sheep, are happily sandwiched in between.”

David could look back and see goodness and mercy in specific moments: the field—that was goodness. Samuel anointing him—that was goodness. Facing Goliath—that was goodness and mercy. The dark situation with Bathsheba—that was mercy.

Now, looking back, David testifies: They have been with me all along, bringing me to this point. May we also never forget the goodness and mercy of God that has carried us this far.

3. The Culmination in This Verse

(or we might even call it the Coronation)

Psalm 23 has a destination. It isn’t just a psalm of beauty, or comfort, or even one just for funerals. It’s a psalm with a finish line.

“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

We are not just walking with the Shepherd—we are being led home by the Shepherd. That is our ultimate purpose and eternal destiny.

For sheep, the end of life is wool, meat, or sacrifice. But for the saint, our purpose is eternal worship, eternal service, and eternal joy in His presence.

One day, there will be no more valleys. No more enemies. No more wandering. No more restoring. We will finally be home forever.

And that day will not be the end—but the beginning of all things new.

Hallelujah for our Great Shepherd!