Dear Ones:
The Gulf Stream is a strong ocean current off the east coast of the United States. It is powerful. Such is the force of its current that is it literally a path in the sea.
The 23rd Psalm is one of the most loved. There is within it a powerful current that draws us to God. Consider two important truths found in this passage: God’s GOODNESS and His MERCY. (Psalm 23:6) All of God’s dealings with us are from the perspective of His eternal goodness. He is also merciful. When we look at ourselves we must admit that we are sinful, lacking in goodness, limited in our ability to love. How can we trust this Shepherd of which David writes if we do not grasp that He is good and that He is merciful? We cannot. But His goodness and mercy are a strong current that draw us to Him.
When Moses asked the Lord, “Please, show me Your glory” (Exodus 33:18) the Lord declared as He passed before Moses, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth…” (Exodus 34:6).
If only we could just grasp something of the infinite goodness of God and His mercy towards us how much more quickly would we abandon ourselves to Him.
When by His grace we are brought to the place of trusting Him entirely, the first thing He does is give us peace, His peace. It stands as a sentinel upon our hearts and minds. (Philippians 4:7) Then as David wrote, “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” Here we are called to fellowship with the Son of God in the blessed calm of His presence, and in the quiet place alone with Him, He restores our soul. In this secret place He reveals Himself to our hearts.
From the beginning of Scripture to its conclusion, there is a current infinitely stronger than the Gulf Stream and it is the goodness and mercy of God.
May we come to know the Lord as David did so that with him we can say: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Love,
Dad