Skip to main content

I Shall Not Want


          The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1 KJV)

          There’s something about this verse, and maybe about the whole Psalm that demands to be shared in the King James Version. The explanation is probably simple. Because I learned it that way as a kid, it’s comfort food for the soul in a way that the more modern translations can’t quite touch. Another bit of housekeeping: there is an excellent book on shepherds, sheep, and their relationship called A Shepherd Looks At The Twenty-Third Psalm, by W. Phillip Keller. It looks like it’s available in PDF format online. I don’t plan to plagiarize it by telling you what he says. If you don’t have it, you might find it useful to get and read.
           The Wuhan virus has us all on edge. Some are on the precipice of fear, some of frustration, others of anger, and still others of grief. This means we feel in want of, or in need of something. We might say we need health, safety, freedom, control, comfort, faith, joy, hope, strength, something to do, a job… Feel free to add to the list.
            One of the things about sheep that Mr. Keller mentions is that they can be sheep-headed. They want what they want, and the grass over there looks better than the grass where they are. We also tend to be sheep-headed. In fact, we tend to be bull-headed about being sheep-headed.
          Sometimes, our sheep-headedness leads us to believe that this verse promises us riches beyond the wildest dreams of avarice and absolute protection from everything we consider harmful. But that’s not how this works. A good part of the time, we exclaim, “I need that!” and God’s answer is, “The Lord is your Shepherd.” We cry, “I need!” and He answers, “No, you don’t. You have Me.”
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” may not always be only a promise of provision. It can also be a challenge to ourselves. It is “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,” but it is also, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  How often do we permit ourselves to want what we do not need? This is not to say that wanting something is wrong. It may be a desire God has placed on our hearts, but wanting something (lacking something) is not the same as wanting something (desiring something), and that is not the same as wanting something (making it the focus of our lives.) How often do our wants become the focus of our attention? The Lord is my shepherd. He guides, directs, provides, and cares for. That thing we want won’t fulfill us as He can.
Say it aloud, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Change the emphasis. See which focus feels the hardest to declare to yourself. That’s the focus of your prayer today.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more