This morning in church we read Psalm 23.

There is absolutely nothing even remotely odd about that. After all, this is one of the most beloved and comforting psalms in the entire Psalter. This morning our focus was on the first part of verse six, which is traditionally rendered:

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
-Ps 23.6a, ESV

This translation is well and good...except it is not nearly strong enough to describe God's actions toward us. Most English bibles have followed the tradition established by the KJV and translated the Hebrew word radaph (רָדַף) as 'followed,' but a quick look at the standard lexicons shows that this word is more often understood as 'pursued.' God's actions here are better understood like this:

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life
-Ps 23.6, HCSB

I don't know about you, but being pursued feels a whole lot different than merely being followed. God, in his goodness and faithful love, does exactly that--he pursues us...

Relentlessly. Tirelessly. Persistently. Lovingly. Mercifully.

Thanks be to God!

photo credit: Samantha Evans | CC