This is part of the worship series,
"Psalm 23"
Series Introduction
Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5
Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10
Week 11 | Week 12
Week 11
Chased by Goodness
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6a, NKJV).
Weekly Email
As the psalmist begins to bring this poem-prayer to an end, we can almost hear the wonder in his voice. He has beautifully described the loving ways our God cares for us using the metaphors of a shepherd and a host at a feast. Now it is as if he is looking back on what he has written and sees clearly the God he has described—the loving, protecting, nurturing, sustaining, generous God—and says, “Wow, this is a God who sends blessings chasing me down the road!” The psalmist is surrounded, pursued, enveloped by God. Last week we talked about how, when you don’t feel your cup running over, you could take a moment to remember what God has done for you in the past and trust God for the future. Consider taking some time this week to look back over your life. When have you seen God’s blessings chasing you down the road? When have you been caught unaware by the goodness and mercy of our God?
Sermon
Ezekiel 34:11–31 "Sought and Found"
Sermon notes by Rev. Stan Mast are available from the Center for Excellence in Preaching.
Children’s Message
Can you think with me about some things that surprise you about God? What are some things that make you say “Wow!”
[Possible answers: God creating the whole world just by speaking; any of the miracles in the Old or New Testament; God knowing everything about us.] When I think really hard about some of these things I sometimes get overwhelmed, and my brain just shuts down a little. I end up feeling speechless—a little bit like this: [Project the “mind blown” emoji or the “wow” emoji.]
In today’s verse, the writer of Psalm 23 seems to be saying “Wow!”: “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” It’s as if the psalmist pauses and thinks, “This God is incredible! There’s no getting away from how much God is taking care of me! Even if I tried to run away from God and God’s blessings, they would chase me down the road!” Can you imagine God chasing you down the road the way your parents might chase you if you walked out of the house without your shoes? “Hey, [child’s name], you forgot to take my goodness with you today!” “Hey, [child’s name]! Don’t forget my mercy—it’s right there on the counter!”
Of course, the biggest goodness and mercy blessing, the biggest wow of all, is that even though we try to run away from God, even though we sin and we fail, God found a way to bring us back. God sent Jesus, who catches up with us, wraps his arms around us, and says, “You are mine. I love you, and you are never getting away from me.”
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| Art © 2022 Bethany Besteman, Used by permission | ||
Song Suggestions
“How Great Thou Art” Boberg
“How Great Is Our God” Tomlin, Reeves, and Cash
“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” Wesley
“Joy to the World” Watts
Prompts for Reflection
Journaling/Prayer Prompt: Spend some time thinking about goodness and mercy. The former calls up the idea of blessings, but also moral uprightness. The latter suggests compassion and something unmerited or undeserved. What do these words mean to you? Where have you seen them in your life? Throughout the week, when discouraged or depressed, remember this meditation and pray the words “Surely your goodness and love will follow me.” Faith Practices: Prayer
Artwork Prompt: If you have watercolors, use those for this prompt. If you don’t have watercolors, you can use food coloring. You’ll also need a brush and a cup of water, paper, and some paper towels for cleanup. Hold up the paper yourself or use an easel. Get the brush really wet and trace a path across your paper from top to bottom (it can be curved or straight). Then, before the water dries, get watercolor or food coloring on your brush (don’t be stingy) and dab the top of the paper. Watch as the paint follows the path the water took across the paper. You can do this multiple times and watch how the paint chases down the water just like God’s goodness and mercy chase us down.
Revised Common Lectionary
Psalm 23
Years A, B, C: Easter—Fourth Sunday of Easter
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Proper 23 (28)
Year B: Season after Pentecost—Proper 11 (16)
Ezekiel 34
Year A: Season after Pentecost—Reign of Christ—Proper 29 (34)
