Radaph — The Word That Means Goodness and Mercy Are Not Following You. They Are Hunting You.

You've heard it a hundred times. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me..." And we picture them walking behind us. Slowly. Politely. A few steps back. But that's not what David wrote. The Hebrew word for "follow" is radaph. It's the word for an army running after someone. In hot pursuit. Not strolling... chasing. So read it again. Goodness and mercy are chasing you. Every single day of your life. And that first word, "surely"? In Hebrew it's akh. It means: no doubt about it. David isn't hoping. He's certain. He had walked through the valley. He had sat at a table surrounded by enemies. And on the other side of all of it, he could say this. You don't have to run after God's goodness. You don't have to earn His mercy. It's already running after you. And it will catch you.