The Hounds of Heaven

Ps 23:1?6

1          The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2          He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3          He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

4          Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5          Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6          Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

(KJV)

When I was a boy I had a Beagle.

·        Can follow a scent for miles.

·        The smell of the prey causes the dogs to become intoxicated.

·        Howl.

·        Bark.

·        They will run the prey till they die.

Many good dogs lost to deer.

·        Some Hounds have large ears, to trap the scent as they hunt.

The scent is on the ground.

It’s in the air currents.

·        They can follow the scent that is “cold”.  Days after the prey have left the area.

·        Hounds are used to track men.

Hounds are not the only thing that follow men.

The Bible says that Goodness and Mercy follow men.

·          They are hounds of heaven!

God’s goodness.

Exod 34:6

The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

(KJV)

I King 8:66

On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.

(KJV)

2 Chr 6:41

O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

(KJV)

Neh 9:25

And they took strong cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and oliveyards, and fruit trees in abundance: so they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.

(KJV)

Ps 21:1?3

1          The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!

2          Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah.

3          For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness:

(KJV)

Ps 33:5

He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

(KJV)

Ps 27:13

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

(KJV)

Rom 11:22

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

(KJV)

·          some don’t want God’s goodness.

·          His goodness will either be a blessing or a curse.

·          You cannot escape it.

Mercy is also one of the hounds of heaven.

Exod 33:19

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

·          {You cannot escape it}

Num 14:18

The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression,

(KJV)

·          His mercy is always there.

1 Chr 16:34

O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

·          It will not give up on you.

Luke 1:50

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

(KJV)

Ezra 9:9

For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.

(KJV)

·          God’s mercy found them in the presence of their enemies.

Ps 5:7