God’s Watchdogs? (psalm 23:6) - The One Year Book of Psalms

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1The LORD is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

2He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

4Even when I walk

through the dark valley of death,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

5You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You welcome me as a guest,

anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

6Surely 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.

Some people think of “goodness and unfailing love” (verse 6) as God’s watchdogs. The Good Shepherd is leading up ahead, and the dogs are keeping us moving from behind.

This imagery brings to mind a poem by Francis Thompson entitled “The Hound of Heaven.” The opening lines read:

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;

I fled Him, down the arches of the years;

I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways

Of my own mind . . .

From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.

People run from God and his love all the time. Even those who say they follow God occasionally run from him. Exactly why people run from God is somewhat of a mystery. Regarding his own time of running from God the Elizabethan poet George Herbert explained, “Love bade me welcome: yet my soul drew back, Guilty of dust and sin.” Fortunately, as Francis Thompson has noted, “Love is a better pursuer than Fear is an evader.” When we run from God, he is able to catch us with his goodness and unfailing love, escorting us back into his green pastures.

Green pastures are before me, which yet I have not seen;

Bright skies will soon be o’er me where darkest clouds have been;

My hope I cannot measure, my path to life is free;

My Savior has my treasure, and he will walk with me.

ANNA L. WARING

Fascinating Fact

In pain after a long and arduous trip, John Wesley was unable to stand up, so he preached a sermon on Psalm 23 from his knees.

Notable Quotable

“One soon tires of being ‘on the go.’ Man looks for some place he can with finality call home.”

NORMAN KELLOW