The Hebrew text begins with “ak” (ESV: surely), which expresses a certainty—something which is really true, and which will surely happen. The following two words, goodness and mercy,
underline God’s faithfulness to the covenant. Deuteronomy 7:9 puts it beautifully, Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.
This precious care of God surrounds me when I must go through treacherous terrain (Psalm 23:4) and it brings me home in Father’s house. Here we once again see the image of the shepherd who, after an arduous journey, gathers all his sheep in the sheepfold. There they can recover from the hardships endured during the day and even spare some food for the night.
Especially here, we may think of the Lord Jesus, who profiles himself as the good Shepherd who knows all his sheep by name (John 10:14) and who gives everything—even his life (John 10:11, John 10:17)—for the sheep. It is very fitting therefore, that in Hebrews 13:20, he is portrayed as the great shepherd of the sheep
who by the blood of the eternal covenant
has brought them from the dead
(compare with 1 Peter 2:25).
The keyword of Psalm 23:1–6 can be wonder.
How great is God’s grace, for once and for ever shown in Jesus Christ, for people. Being closely connected to him, we will lack nothing and we will be well cared for until eternity.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.