Psalm 23:6

David makes the experience: Despite my faults, God helps me.

Mercy or loving kindness (חֶסֶד – chesed) requires that one is aware that one has missed one’s mark and can no longer do things well. Mercy is the act of restoration without merit of one’s own.

That someone wants our best is behind the words: Goodness shall follow me. God as the good shepherd has good thoughts over our lives. He does not look for our mistakes but sees our potential. He wants to restore us so that we become what he created us to be.

Behind the word “follow me” is the image of rushing after, chasing and pursuing. More like goodness and mercy will chase me — they will hunt me down. The root word used is the same for persecution even — so it’s saying that goodness and mercy, or loving kindness (חֶסֶד – chesed) will chase me down. For those in God’s flock, under the care of the Good Shepherd, it’s goodness and mercy that’s doing the hounding, eager to capture us and surround us with good things. Instead of looking at our problems, with God’s help we can discover the goodness of God around us.