Wanting

 

Wanting

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

It is quite a statement.

The opening line of a familiar psalm, Psalm 23, that many people know, some can quote from memory, and often found on those little cards you get at a loved one’s funeral – it was on my dad’s.

It is a small statement full of powerful truth – for the believer - life-giving Truth.

Yet I find myself wanting many things – a new job, appreciation, a remodeled home, chocolate, a svelte figure, lubricated joints, a maid – not necessarily in that order.

Then there are more nobler wants – common sense, integrity, faithfulness, peace, government with a brain cell – just one – please.

My, my – I find our times wanting….

As I write, we are looking at more restrictions and mandates that free us from our liberties and make us question the veracity of health experts.

We have an engineered disaster in Afghanistan that has already cost military and civilian lives. There will certainly be more lives lost and opportunity for terror to proliferate.

We have a federal government and many state governments run by incompetent, power hungry fools spreading their destruction at every turn.

We, unfortunately, as a nation are found wanting.

Sadly, the entire world, including those that were our friends, would stand up and agree.

What does the psalmist mean when he says, “I shall not want”?

Is it his choice or his reality?

Well, we know David, the author of the psalm, had his problems – being chased around for years by someone trying to kill him, adultery, murder, messed up kids.

But still he says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

Obviously, this refers to more than his circumstances, politics, or desire for plague avoidance.

To understand the “I shall not want” part of the phrase. We have to look at the “the LORD is my shepherd” part.

Lord there is in all caps – LORD – which means we’re talking about Jehovah, the God of Israel – Creator, Almighty, King – ‘I Am’ – the One who is always present.

A shepherd was a pretty common occupation in the Near East – it still is – There is only one God – unique, nobody like Him – yet David declares Him, “my shepherd”.

The pronoun “my” makes this particular shepherd very personal. David belongs to this shepherd.

He makes the incomprehensible personal and familiar.

Shepherding is a tough job. The shepherd is on duty 24/7. He’s responsible for the sheep’s welfare and safety – and sheep are dumb. They are prone to wander.

The shepherd makes sure the sheep have good grazing pastures – the sheep are not above eating dirt and garbage if the shepherd doesn’t pay attention.

The shepherd makes sure they have clean water and quiet streams to drink from – the sheep would drink from poisonous springs if not watched.

The shepherd keeps them clean and disease free – their coat mats and collects bugs and debris and would be hazardous to their health if not maintained.

The shepherd will lay down his life to protect the sheep – they are easy prey. He’s out there among them no matter the weather or danger.

Likening the LORD to a shepherd is not an uncommon idea in the Scriptures.

One of my favorite verses describing the LORD as a shepherd is Isaiah 40:11, Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

That verse greatly comforted me as a single mom, and later when I had seven sons 12 years old and younger.

In fact, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

That is the reason David says, “I shall not want.”

This is the believer’s hope and trust – we are wanting – all have sinned.

But we have a God who became common and laid down His life for dumb sheep. Through faith He becomes our shepherd and we shall not want.

Looking at the world right now is ominous. Things getting worse won’t surprise me – it’s not like it hasn’t happened before. More people should read history…

Let’s wrap up with the apostle Paul’s words:

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,

“For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:31-39)

No, believers shall not want – and if we get to prove it in this life, it will be a privilege.