Abundant Grace Dailyنموونە

Life Without Lack

PSALM 23:1

The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

Psalm 23, for many, is a Psalm for funerals and hospital visits, and that is an entirely appropriate use of these timeless and comforting words. However, as we will see, it is mainly a psalm for living well by trusting God fully.

This psalm concludes with the metaphor of abundance, where we find ourselves at a banquet. The psalmist's cup is not just half full, it’s overflowing! And it starts with the statement that, with the LORD as my Shepherd, I'm not needy at all.

How needy are you? Right now, could you say like David, “I shall not want,” which means, I'm not lacking in anything I really need. The psalmist clearly was needy. Sheep need food, guidance, rest, and protection (v.1-3). As a guest (v. 4-6) he needs provisions, and companionship. Yet he says he is without lack. Why?

It’s because of who his Shepherd is: Yahweh (the LORD)—who revealed himself to Moses as “I AM who I AM.” Before anything existed, God always was. This Shepherd is never needy, endlessly sufficient, forever available, and always good.

… I shall not want

What a great first line! Life without lack. All because God is abundantly sufficient. It is this totally adequate God that allows us to say, “Because Yahweh is my shepherd, I have everything I really need.”

Are you weary, burdened, bowed down with needs today? Those feelings are real. But instead of focusing on those shortcomings, meditate on God’s sufficient strength. Start each day with thoughts of God’s abundance, not your inadequacies.

Maybe circle or highlight the word my in verse one. He's not just a Shepherd or our Shepherd, but says David, he is mine and I am his. This is such a personal psalm.

My prayer is that as you soak in what we call Psalm 23, you will come to know this Shepherd more intimately, and joyfully be able to say, my Shepherd.

His abundant grace is available for you today.[1]

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my Shepherd, you are all I really need. I confess that I focus too often on things that I lack, like energy and recognition. Forgive me for running after things that leave me empty. You were a Shepherd to your people, and to individuals like David, but I know you as my Shepherd. You know me and love me and are so gentle and patient with me. Teach me to find contentment in you only. You are my all-sufficient Shepherd. Amen.

Reflection:

• To what extent are you experiencing “life without lack” at present? Why?
• One way to meditate on this very rich verse is to single out the main words and turn over in your mind what they mean, and mean to you.

Maybe this week keep returning to this umbrella verse:

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Action:

• Consider memorizing Psalm 23 (if you haven’t already), and as you quote it, meditate on (turn over) every phrase, line by line.

[1] If you wish to dive deeper into this Psalm, I highly recommend The LORD of Psalm 23, by David Gibson.