Continuing with my thoughts about Psalm 23, moving on to the rest of verse 1...“I shall not be in want.”
‘Want’ is an interesting word. As any parent knows, ‘want’ is an integral part of a child’s language. Every time a commercial comes on for some new toy, they immediately ‘want’ it. Around our house, our grandchildren are already letting us know what they ‘want’ for Christmas...which is still 7 months away! Of course, adults are also pretty familiar with 'want’ as well. We all ‘want’ something - be it clothes, jewelry, tools, a new vehicle, a vacation, whatever. Fill in the blank. So in the positive sense of the word, ‘want’ is equivalent to desire. And, as we all know, there is no shortage of things that we desire.
‘Want’, however, also has a negative sense. In a word, ‘want’ indicates lack. As in something missing or lacking. We see this in Daniel 5:27, and the writing on the wall which Daniel interprets for King Belshazzar, “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.” Not good. In other words, God was telling King Belshazzar that he was lacking in the area of character and godliness. The result was he was killed that very night. Another word that would substitute for ‘want’ is need. This is a word that we are more familiar with. What is interesting about the phrase “I shall not be in want”, is that ‘want’ is used in the negative sense in a positive way. (Stay with me on this one.) What David is saying is that since the Lord is his Shepherd, he will have no ‘wants’. No lack. No needs. In other words, David will lack for nothing in his life. All of his needs will be taken care of. This is obviously a huge positive for David.
What a precious promise this is for each of us as well! All of us have needs in this life. From the most basic needs of food and water to the more complex needs of purpose and fulfillment. In short, life is a constant struggle by us to meet all of our needs. Unfortunately, not only do we have a lot of needs, many of them are reoccurring, which means that they have to be met over and over again. This is part of the perplexing nature of human existence. No sooner do we have a need met, than it requires our attention once again soon after (food, water, rest, etc.). The good news is that our Shepherd, Jesus (John 10) is able to meet all of our needs. He is able to take care of us to the point where we are not ‘wanting’ for anything. Everything, from the most basic needs to the most complex, are taken care of by Him. All we have to do is to trust Him. To willingly place ourselves under His control. To follow His leading.
Again, isn’t this wonderful news! This means we can get off the proverbial treadmill of life. We don’t have to relentlessly try to meet our needs only to discover that we have to start all over again. Countless millions of people are doing this very thing every single day. And they are worn out from it. Exhausted. Discouraged. As Jesus said in Matthew 6, if we will put the Kingdom of God first in our lives, all of our needs will be taken care of. All of them! This means we can relax. We can enjoy life. We can follow close at the heels of our Good Shepherd without a single care in the world. Our needs will be taken care of. Daily. Abundantly. We will not be in want.
Lord, I thank you for the reality that is found here in the first verse of the 23rd Psalm - that when I follow Your leading I will not be in want - today, tomorrow, ever! How simple this makes my life! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
‘Want’, however, also has a negative sense. In a word, ‘want’ indicates lack. As in something missing or lacking. We see this in Daniel 5:27, and the writing on the wall which Daniel interprets for King Belshazzar, “You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting.” Not good. In other words, God was telling King Belshazzar that he was lacking in the area of character and godliness. The result was he was killed that very night. Another word that would substitute for ‘want’ is need. This is a word that we are more familiar with. What is interesting about the phrase “I shall not be in want”, is that ‘want’ is used in the negative sense in a positive way. (Stay with me on this one.) What David is saying is that since the Lord is his Shepherd, he will have no ‘wants’. No lack. No needs. In other words, David will lack for nothing in his life. All of his needs will be taken care of. This is obviously a huge positive for David.
What a precious promise this is for each of us as well! All of us have needs in this life. From the most basic needs of food and water to the more complex needs of purpose and fulfillment. In short, life is a constant struggle by us to meet all of our needs. Unfortunately, not only do we have a lot of needs, many of them are reoccurring, which means that they have to be met over and over again. This is part of the perplexing nature of human existence. No sooner do we have a need met, than it requires our attention once again soon after (food, water, rest, etc.). The good news is that our Shepherd, Jesus (John 10) is able to meet all of our needs. He is able to take care of us to the point where we are not ‘wanting’ for anything. Everything, from the most basic needs to the most complex, are taken care of by Him. All we have to do is to trust Him. To willingly place ourselves under His control. To follow His leading.
Again, isn’t this wonderful news! This means we can get off the proverbial treadmill of life. We don’t have to relentlessly try to meet our needs only to discover that we have to start all over again. Countless millions of people are doing this very thing every single day. And they are worn out from it. Exhausted. Discouraged. As Jesus said in Matthew 6, if we will put the Kingdom of God first in our lives, all of our needs will be taken care of. All of them! This means we can relax. We can enjoy life. We can follow close at the heels of our Good Shepherd without a single care in the world. Our needs will be taken care of. Daily. Abundantly. We will not be in want.
Lord, I thank you for the reality that is found here in the first verse of the 23rd Psalm - that when I follow Your leading I will not be in want - today, tomorrow, ever! How simple this makes my life! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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