(Reflections on Psalm 23, cont’d)
Even better than pursuing God is when we realize He’s already pursuing us.
Surely 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. Psalm 23:6
The songwriter was well-acquainted with being pursued. The sitting king pursued David at length, hoping to kill him and any threat of David taking his throne. David went from a kid minding his own business on his dad’s ranch, to a young adult running for his life, pursued by the most powerful man in the land. Being pursued can feel uncomfortable. You wonder if you did something wrong; if you deserve the wrath coming your way. You hide in caves and tunnels. You eat only what you kill that day. You don’t have extra and what you have, is wearing out. You wonder “How long to sing this song.” (Also David, Psalm 40.)
But… when you realize that it’s been God pursuing you all along, well, everything changes. When you stop running and rest in his protective hands of promise… stroll in green provisional meadows… drink from still satisfying waters… All of the sudden, being pursued by any human with bad intentions just doesn’t seem like a big deal. Because it isn’t. You’ve already been pursued. And now, you’ll always be safe—even when you’re not.