Return to Sermons | Home

“And I Will Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever
Psalm 23:6

 

Click for Audio


Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas

Good Friday—April 14, 2017

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul.  He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.  Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” 

We conclude our sermon series, “A Lenten Look at Psalm 23”: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Always following behind a flock of sheep are the wolves and other attackers, just waiting for an opportunity, for one of the flock to wander or fall behind.  But, the Good Shepherd’s flock is so blessed, his sheep are followed not by vicious predators, but by two wonderful companions: goodness and mercy. 

In fact, the Hebrew text actually says that we are pursued through life, not by predators, but pursued by God’s goodness and mercy.  Imagine God’s goodness and mercy like faithful sheepdogs, following behind you and tending you all the days of your life.  He shows his goodness to you by abundantly providing so many blessings; he shows his mercy to you by completely forgiving all your sins. 

In his book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” Phillip Keller writes:

“Of course it is very simple to speak this way when things are going well. If my health is excellent, my income is flourishing, my family is well, and my friends are fond of me, it is not hard to say, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.’  But, what about when things crumble into ruins? Can I then honestly declare, ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ALL the days of my life’?

“In looking back over my own life, there were events which at the time seemed like utter calamities. But, all in the end turned out for my benefit and my well-being.  With my limited understanding as a finite human being, I could not always comprehend the Good Shepherd’s management of my life, executed in his infinite wisdom.

“With my natural tendencies to fear, worry, and ask ‘why,’ it was not always simple to assume that he really did know what he was doing with me. There were times I was tempted to panic, to bolt from his flock and leave his care. Somehow, I had the strange, stupid notion I could survive better on my own.

“But, despite this perverse behavior, I am so glad that my Good Shepherd did not give up on me! I am so grateful that he did follow me in goodness and mercy. The only possible motivation was his own love, his care and concern for me as one of his sheep. And despite my doubts, despite my misgivings about his management of my affairs, he has picked me up and born me back again in great tenderness.

“As I see all of this in retrospect, I realize that for the one who is truly in Christ’s care, no difficulty can arise, no dilemma emerge, no seeming disaster descend on their life, without eventual good coming out of the chaos.  Seeing the goodness and mercy of my Master in my life has become the great foundation of my faith and confidence in him.

“I love him because he first loved me. His goodness and mercy and compassion to me are new every day. And my assurance is lodged in these aspects of his character. My trust is in his love for me as his own. My serenity has as its basis an implicit, unshakable reliance on his ability to do the right thing, the best thing, in any and all situations.

“This to me is the supreme portrait of my Good Shepherd. Continually there flows out to me his goodness and mercy, even though I do not deserve them.”

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  We dwell in the house of the Lord whenever we are together here, in church.  We dwell in the house of the Lord whenever we are in our own homes, because they are Christian homes.  And finally, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever in heaven, as Jesus promised the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” 

At the Last Supper, Jesus gave to his disciples and us a precious promise: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms . . .  I am going there to prepare a place for you. . .  I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you also may be where I am.” 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Amen.

  Return to Top | Return to Sermons | Home | Email Church Office