Psalm 23 is probably the most famous psalm in the Bible. David, someone who had worked as a shepherd, likens his relationship with God to one between a shepherd and his sheep. He ends the psalm with an imperative statement: ‘surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life’. He has no doubts over the goodness of God that he will receive. He is not questioning whether God’s goodness will be bestowed upon him; he is not hesitant about declaring he will receive goodness; there is no uncertainty. He is declaring with absolute certainty that he will be blessed with the abundant goodness of God. How can David make such a confident declaration? Is he being over-confident about his standing in God’s eyes? Is he verging on arrogance? No! David’s assertion is not based on what he thinks he deserves: instead it is based on the overwhelming kindness that he has seen God display. He has realised that God’s goodness to him is not conditioned upon David being worthy of receiving it – in fact, it’s nothing to do with David! God is good to David, because God is good! God is good to you and I not because of who we are, but because that’s who He is. When we understand this, we can proclaim as confidently as David that His goodness will follow us all of our days!