Love that chases us down
by Jordan Moore
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Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long (Psalm 23:6).
Read Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is surely one of the most beloved passages in all Scripture. What does it stir in you? Perhaps childhood memories of learning it by heart. Perhaps the solemn tenderness of a funeral. Or maybe even a smile at the thought of the TV comedy The Vicar of Dibley.
Every year, I look forward to Good Shepherd Sunday, when we usually have the opportunity to sing Psalm 23 to one of numerous musical settings and reflect again on Jesus as our Good Shepherd. ‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.’ Jesus, our Good Shepherd, is also Immanuel: God with us in the darkest valleys of our lives. How have you experienced God’s peace, presence and protection in times of trouble?
As always happens when we read the Bible in English, no matter how good the translation, some nuance is always lost. In verse six, the Hebrew word חֵסֵד (pronounced kheh’-sed) is translated as ‘mercy’, but it also conveys the notions of ‘love’, ‘covenant faithfulness’ and ‘grace’. Older translations often used the word ‘lovingkindness’. Similarly, רָדַף (rah-daf’) is here translated as ‘follow’, but it is far too gentle, too nice, too polite a translation. This is the word used to describe Pharaoh’s army chasing down the Israelites to the Red Sea. It is a pursuit that will never give up.
For all the days of our lives, we are being chased down by a love that is so vast, so beautiful, that we cannot comprehend it. It is a love that pursues us without giving up, no matter the cost; a love that went all the way to the cross to secure our redemption.
Jesus, our Good Shepherd, we thank you for being with us in the darkest moments of our lives. Thank you for your love for us that never stops or gives up on us until it brings us safely home to you. Lead us to put our trust in you and rest in the depths of your unfailing love. Amen.
Jordan Moore lives in the northern suburbs of Brisbane with her husband Thomas and two young children. She is a stay-at-home mum and part-time pastoral studies student at Australian Lutheran College. In her spare time, she enjoys solving variant sudokus and doing Irish dancing.
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