Psalms 23: Part 1
Today’s post begins a series discussing the 23rd Psalm. This is probably one of the most quoted scriptures from the Old Testament. It is often used as the focus passage for peoples’ funerals. It is a scripture that should be a comfort for those of us that are children of God and a wake-up call to those who are not. The passage begins:
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1
Now, in order to fully understand the 23rd Psalm, you must read it in the right point of context verse by verse. The reason for this is because the context changes during the passage. You must also understand the background of David, the writer, and the comparisons he makes in order to get the point across. David began as a shepherd. He, once he became old enough, was put in charge over his father’s sheep. So, David would spend a lot of time out in the pasture sitting, watching, guarding, and protecting the sheep. Therefore, David starts this passage out comparing himself to being a sheep and God as his Shepherd.
Verse 1 of this passage can seem a bit unusual to some non-Christians. If you read it at face value according to how we speak today it sounds like David wants nothing to do with God. It sounds as if David doesn’t need or want God. In everyday language it sounds like David is saying, “The Lord is my Shepherd but I don’t want Him”. Is this what David is saying? Could he really be telling God ‘I don’t need you.’?
Not at all. David here is saying that God is my leader. God is my protector. God provides everything I need. He provides everything I need to the extent that I want nothing more. I need nothing more. A shepherd is responsible for leading the sheep to food and water. The shepherd is responsible for protecting the sheep from danger. The sheep depend on the shepherd to provide them with all their needs for survival. David is pointing out here that God provides him with everything he needs. David recognizes that with everything God provides, he could never have any needs that God will not meet.
We often allow ourselves to get caught up in the pursuit of worldly desires. We think that the fulfillment of these desires will satisfy us. More money, more stuff, more fame, or more popularity will fill the hole inside us. Sometimes God allows us to accumulate some of the things we desire in order to help us see that they do not satisfy.
Sheep are noted as being some of the most non-intelligent animals on earth. They are followers. They need to be led. They need protection. Otherwise they die. It is no coincidence that the Bible compares humans to sheep in the spiritual sense. We think we know best, but in the end, we are completely ignorant. We need the Good Shepherd to lead us, protect us, and provide for us. Our job is to give in to His leadership and follow. God wants to be our shepherd. He wants to provide. That’s His loving nature. We need to realize that He is capable of providing for us all we could ever need and then some. If we would just hand over everything to Him, we too could experience what David was talking about in verse 1. We could experience a life in which we too “shall not want”.