I shall not want (psalm 23)

Psalm 23 is arguably one of the most recited Psalms, and I believe it’s among the first verses most of us memorized. In this Psalm, David presents to us an imagery of God being a shepherd-a job David himself was very familiar with. Other texts in the Bible, right from the old testament, for example in Ezekiel 34 where this imagery is used to rebuke the selfish leaders of Israel right through to the new testament, where Jesus refers to Himself as the good shepherd in John 10:11. So why a shepherd? Apart from the fact that this profession resonated more with the people of that era, the work of a shepherd is indeed a remarkable one. 

Any shepherd worth his trade is said to know his sheep intimately even though they all seem to look very alike. They are said to spend a considerable amount of time with their flock finding the right pasture for them, thus they build a relationship with their sheep and are said to know the names and even characters of every one of them. He knows their ewes, ram and lamb. He is able to tell when there are changes in behavioral patterns of each one of them. He observes them and can sense problems even before they develop fully.

The shepherd values his sheep. They are willing to take risks to see to the safety and well being of the sheep, protecting them from thieves and predators. I read a story of a shepherd who on one of his travels woke up at night after having a bad dream about one of his sheep. He called home and requested that, that particular sheep be checked immediately. Interestingly, that sheep required medical attention. That's how interesting and amazing the bond can be.  

The shepherd does not just value his sheep, but he loves them and this love provokes these actions for them.  For instance in 1samuel 17:34, we read of how David fights off lions in order to protect his sheep. The shepherd feeds his sheep. They are said to know the best fields to take the sheep at different times of the year, the particular kinds of grass required and when water is needed to refresh and reinvigorate his flock.  The shepherd leads his sheep. In the East it was the custom for shepherds to go before the sheep, to break up the way, to clear paths of danger, to take the safest path. He leads them beside the still waters, in straight paths, through the darkest valley.

The shepherd pursues the sheep. When a sheep is missing or straying, the shepherd does not say, “O well, I’ve got 99 left.” No, he seeks until he finds it (Lk. 15:3ff). No matter how far away, no matter how foolish the sheep has been, no matter how frequent his straying, the shepherd goes after it. 

In psalm 100: 3, we are reminded that we are God’s people, the sheep of His pasture. So as sheep of Jesus the good shepherd, we must remember that He knows us intimately and values us deeply.  We must remember that He loves us unreservedly and consistently provides for our needs. He leads us daily and orders our steps continuously. He pursues us always and desires that we remain part of His flock. David understood these facts and so was able to say “I shall not want”. Today the Lord is drawing our minds to this fact that He is our shepherd and we have absolutely no need to want. He wants us not to just recite these verses but live them.

Paul emphasizes this understanding in Phil 3:19 where he writes that my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. As the sheep is defenseless and is totally reliant on the shepherd, we need to depend on the Lord completely, understanding that He is aware and cares for our needs. As the year is drawing closer to an end, the Lord is reminding us tonight to keep on holding unto Him, the good shepherd. Regardless of the circumstance He encourages us to understand that so far as we remain with Him we shall not want. 

So what should we do as His sheep? We need to understand and remember this fact and live it. We need to be still and know that He is God. He is the shepherd of our careers, of our plans and projects, of our marriages; the list goes on and on. Examples of people who lived this fact are strewn across scripture. But one which strikes me is the widow of Luke 21:1-4, the popular story of the widow’s mite. This widow captures Jesus’ attention because she gave her all. She gave her all not out of frustration or despondence, but I believe that she gave all because she understood that her good shepherd will provide. This widow was not named and indeed she is not even mentioned past verse 4 but her action is etched in time. 

So have you forgotten about your good shepherd? Have you strayed away from His flock? Have you ignored His voice calling you home? Have you been depending on your own abilities for finding pasture and safety? He reminds us tonight of His loving role and encourages us not to be anxious because He is there, so that like David we can boldly say the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Amen.