by Jilene Scherenske
This is the second in a series of articles on Psalm 23. I have found this study to be a great blessing to my soul and trust it will be to yours also. The reader should be aware that I have used Phillip Keller’s book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 as a resource. I refer often to his book and knowledge of the care of sheep. Then I take his insights, combine them with the Word of God and meditate thereon. This is the result of my meditations.
Psalm 23:1b “…I shall not want.”
Because the Lord is my awesome Shepherd there is nothing that I shall need. I will not need anything! What a bold statement! It is perspective. One’s cup is either half empty or half full. This declaration can only be made by one who fully knows the Lord, knows and believes in what He can do, and has placed his trust completely in Him. Not only does the word ‘want’ mean lacking in nothing, but it also means that one is so content with the Good Shepherd’s care that they crave or desire nothing else! What a beautiful place to be! A great example of this is the following story: “One of the poor members of the flock of Christ was reduced to circumstances of the greatest poverty in his old age, and yet he never murmured. "You must be badly off", said a kind hearted neighbour to him one day as they met upon the road, "you must be badly off; and I don't know how an old man like you can maintain yourself and your wife; yet you are always cheerful!" "Oh no!" he replied, "we are not badly off, I have a rich Father, and he does not suffer me to want." "What! your father is not dead yet? he must be very old indeed!" "Oh!" said he, "my Father never dies, and he always takes care of me!" This aged Christian was a daily pensioner on the providence of his God. His struggles and his poverty were known to all; but his own declaration was, that he never wanted what was absolutely necessary. The days of his greatest straits were the days of his most signal and timely deliverances. When old age benumbed the hand of his industry, the Lord extended to him the hand of charity. And often has he gone forth from his scanty breakfast, not knowing from what earthly source his next meal was to be obtained. But yet with David he could rely on his Shepherd's care, and say, "I shall not want;" and as certainly as he trusted in God, so surely, in some unexpected manner was his necessity supplied.” John Stevenson From Treasury of David That is the kind of perspective I’m talking about. That is the perspective I want in my life.
Let us think for a moment on the author of this psalm. David had known great poverty. He had lived for years in caves, depending on food only from those who would provide it. When avoiding Saul, there was once a time when he sent his men begging for food to Nabal, and another time when he went begging to Ahimelech, and yet he says in this Psalm, “I shall not want”. That’s because, even though they were hungry at those times, yet David knew and trusted in God to supply whatever he needed. He had known tremendous personal sorrow both in his sin with Bathsheba and the rebellion of his loved son, Absalom. Yet here he declares that he will never experience any lack or need. He knew if he did not get everything he desired that that thing was not best for him, or that he would have it in due time. And he did! He never starved in all those years of living in caves and running from Saul. Like Paul, David had learned whatever state he was in to be content (Phil 4:11). How is this possible? Because, as Paul declared a couple verses later, he could do all things because Christ was strengthening him. “The wicked always want, but the righteous never; a sinner's heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in the palace of content.” From Treasury of David Remember the rich young ruler? What did Jesus tell him? He directed him to “…sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor…and come…follow me.” Mk 10:21 But the ruler went away sorrowful. What was his problem? Perspective! He thought he needed his riches to keep himself happy. Think of Job, or John the Baptist, or even Jesus. They had many material and/or physical needs. We know from Paul’s life that he had great need physically and materially. Think of all the great missionaries who have gone before us. None lived in comfort but they had what they needed! George Muller was a missionary in England who was led of God to take in orphans and had quite a number of them. Yet almost every day they had no food to give the children, and every day the Lord provided in wonderful ways, like a milk truck breaking down in front of the orphanage and, since the milk would quickly spoil, the driver gave all the milk to them! God never goes back on a promise.
“I shall not want” – means that I will not lack any temporal things. Just as God promises to feed the ravens and clothe the lilies, He will never allow His children to starve. Sure, we may not possess all we want, but God will see to it that we have what we absolutely need. “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” Ps 34:10 I have all the things that I need, not because I have money in the bank, not because I have the health and skill to earn money, but because, The Lord is my Shepherd.
“It is the boss – the manager – the Master in people’s lives who makes the difference in their destiny.” Keller When we have yielded to Christ as our Master, we find contentment and peace. But those who have self as their master, will go the way of the flesh and satan will use that to destroy them. They are like sheep who have an uncaring shepherd who does not see that they are fed and watered and protected as they ought to be. Satan leaves his sheep weak, struggling to survive, full of despair. They are bound by satan’s will for them. But those who have Jesus as their Shepherd are content – and that is the sign that one has Jesus as their Shepherd – contentment. And why wouldn’t they be content? Jesus cares for His sheep perfectly. He loves them dearly. He never sleeps but is continually watching over them. He knows each one by name and cares for him individually. He feeds them with the best of pastures. He keeps them safe from disease and from predators. He even gave His life for them. He gives them life abundant if they will but allow Him to be their Master. Who would not want a Shepherd like that?
There are some who are under the Great Shepherd’s care but choose to go their own way. These are carnal Christians. Keller tells of a beautiful sheep he had once. Strikingly beautiful. She birthed good lambs that were strong. In every way just the kind of top-notched sheep one would want in his herd. But she had one problem. Even though she had lush pastures to graze upon, yet she always roamed the fence looking for a spot to escape. Often, she would end up grazing on rotten weeds much less satisfying, yet still she was determined to break through the fence. Soon she taught her lambs to escape as well. And then the rest of the herd began to follow her example as well. As much as he hated it because he loved her so much, Keller was forced to slaughter her so that the whole herd was not ruined. Sometimes that is what happens to carnal Christians, God has to take them home early because of their bad influence.
I liked the picture of another’s illustration of sheep , some of whom do not trust completely in the Master’s care: “Come down to the river; there is something going forward worth seeing. Yon shepherd is about to lead his flock across; and as our Lord says of the good shepherd -- you observe that he goes before, and the sheep follow. Not all in the same manner, however. Some enter boldly, and come straight across. These are the loved ones of the flock, who keep hard by the footsteps of the shepherd, whether sauntering through green meadows by the still waters, feeding upon the mountains, or resting at noon, beneath the shadow of great rocks. And now others enter, but in doubt and alarm. Far from their guide, they miss the ford, and are carried down the river, some more, some less; and yet, one by one, they all struggle over and make good their landing. Notice those little lambs. They refuse to enter, and must be driven into the stream by the shepherd's dog, mentioned by Job in his "parable." Poor things! how they leap, and plunge, and bleat in terror! That weak one yonder will be swept quite away, and perish in the sea. But no; the shepherd himself leaps into the stream, lifts it into his bosom, and bears it trembling to the shore. All safely over, how happy they appear! The lambs frisk and gambol about in high spirits, while the older ones gather round their faithful guide, and look up to him in subdued but expressive thankfulness. Now, can you watch such a scene, and not think of that Shepherd who leadeth Joseph like a flock; and of another river, which all his sheep must cross? He, too, goes before, and, as in the case of this flock, they who keep near him "fear no evil." They hear his sweet voice, saying, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee." Isa 43:2. With eye fastened on him, they scarcely see the stream, or feel its cold and threatening waves. W. M. Thomson. From Treasury of David Wow! Where do you fit in this illustration? Are you the sheep that stays close to the Shepherd and crosses the stream quietly and in confidence knowing that even when you face scary things you will have no want of any thing? Are you the sheep that doubts at times and thus suffers a bit when the trials come, but find sure ground in the end? Or are you the weak lamb who enters the river terrified? Seek to be the confident, trusting one, the one who knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that God will always provide everything you need. Beg God for that kind of trust. Only He can give it to you, though you must be willing to receive it and step out in faith. But if you are not there yet, know that the Lord, your Shepherd, will rescue you and bring you to safe ground.
Ge 48:15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Application
If God is so great and so loving, and He is, then why would we ever distrust Him for the little things of life? He Who has given us His riches in Christ Jesus, will also supply our earthly needs. I have experienced this greatly in my life. Time and time again God has supplied my every need, whether it was an emotional need, a spiritual need, or a physical need. He has never failed to be faithful to me. Be willing to wait, the supply doesn’t always come as soon as we would wish, but it always comes. We must be careful to not have the mindset that if we are pleasing God, we will be greatly blest materially and physically. Yes, God does bless us, and sometimes greatly with material and physical needs, but mostly God blesses us spiritually so that when God calls us to some hardship we can still boast, “I shall not want” because we will never lack the expert care and provision of our Lord and Master. Often what we think is a need in our lives, God knows that it is actually something that would not be best for us. Let us be sure we are trusting God for what our true needs are!