Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live. 

1) What does “goodness” mean in this writing?
David opens the final verse of his psalm with a confident declaration of God’s character and faithfulness.  Goodness is not an abstract idea that simply “sounds good” to him and fits in the verse.  Instead, it is a hallmark of God’s character and a truth David knew well.  Despite the darkness, danger, and enemies, David knows that the God of all that is good – who is goodness – will triumph over all else.  In David’s view, goodness is the Person who would be by his side at every step, pursuing his heart. 

2) What is the relationship between goodness and faithful love?
The God who is goodness itself is also the God who is faithful in all circumstances.  David boldly states that God is committed to pursuing a relationship with him and that He will not leave David’s side just because things are tough and don’t look so good.  David understands that God’s faithfulness is never determined by his present circumstances.   

3) What is the significance of the word “dwell” in this context?
The final words of David’s psalm capture the depth of his understanding of the heart of his heavenly Father.  David grasped the truth that God’s presence was to be desired above all else.  God as his Shepherd was his protector, provider, and guide.  David knew that being content in His presence as a sheep in His flock was to be valued above all else, the center of his world, and the place where he would know ultimate peace. 

1) What does “goodness” mean in this writing?
Let me be clear:  stating that all things with God are good does not mean that all circumstances, in and of themselves, are inherently good.  If we get caught up in that kind of thinking, we run the danger of believing that when things don’t work out how WE hoped or planned, that God has somehow failed to keep up His end of the bargain.  Remember that “good” must always be defined by God, not our own beliefs and desires.  On our own, we cannot define good because at our core, we are not good and cannot do good (Psalm 14:3).  God, by contrast, will always do what is in our best interest, and in line with His ultimate will, even though at times it maybe painful. 

2) What is the relationship between goodness and faithful love?
How do you assess God’s faithfulness in your own life?  Take an honest inventory.  What is your most common, natural response when things get tough in life?  Are you able to remember who God is as a person, or do you focus instead on His activity (or a perceived lack of activity when He feels silent)?  We must be diligent to ensure that no matter the circumstances facing us, that we keep ourselves focused on God’s true character.  He is faithful (Psalm 5:7, Psalm 13:5, Psalm 36:5-10) – past, present, and future.  His character doesn’t allow Him to be anything else.   

3) What is the significance of the word “dwell” in this context?
Communion and fellowship should be the hallmarks of our relationship with God.  Nothing should take us away from seeking His presence (Psalm 26:8).  Nothing should have more value in our lives (Psalm 27:4).  No one should be more important.  No pursuit should be more interesting.  Unfortunately, there are so many other things in the world that pull for our time and attention.  It requires a diligent willingness to create the time and space in our lives to really dwell, or remain, with God in a way that develops our sense of togetherness with him.  How can you create more space to dwell with your good, loving and faithful Father? 

Share your thoughts from today’s Journey Study!
Can we pray for you?
Sign up to receive every Journey Study!
Join the friends at the GT Facebook Community!

We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources.  Just type in the verse you’re looking at and Boom! It’s right in front of you in English and Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament), which are the original languages the Bible was written in.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Find super awesome stuff like “origin”, “definition”, and even all the different ways that single word has been translated into English! If you want to be geeky, you can even click the word and hear its original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want to get more background on a word or phrasing or passage? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.

In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!

Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus.
Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Looking for other journeys from this theme?
See all past studies in Shepherd!