“I Shall Not Want”
Presented  by Rev. Deborah Hansen

Tonight we are going to take a look at PS 23 verse by verse

VS 1:  “The Lord is my Shepherd, (to feed, guide, and shield me), I shall not want, or lack.”  After  WWll, Europe was flooded with homeless, hungry children who were housed in refugee camps.  Though they were fed and cared for, they had a hard time sleeping at night. A psychologist had an idea: a piece of bread was given to each child to hold on to when they went to sleep.  This “bed time bread” was not to eat, just to hold.  If they wanted more to eat, more was provided.  This slice of bread produced a miracle. The children slept peacefully, subconsciously feeling they would have something to eat tomorrow.  Our God gives that kind of assurance.  We have the Bread of Life to hold on to, the Word of God, Christ Himself.  We need not worry.  He is our Shepherd, we shall not want.  It’s all based on trusting God and resting in His arms, and knowing that we will be nourished and fed.

VS 2a: “He makes me lie down in (fresh, tender) green pastures.”   We all have been sick in bed at one time.  When we are we are weak or exhausted and we lie down. Sometimes we are forced to do so. Nature has a way of making us rest and recuperate.  Sheep will not eat lying down; neither will they chew their cud standing up. Taking in spiritual nourishment works the same way. We cannot inwardly digest what we spiritually feed on unless things are aloud to “settle down.”  We all need moments of retreat and rest from the ruckus of the world.  We need to learn to heed the call to “be still and know that He is God” (PS 46:10)

VS 2b:  “He leads me beside the “stilled and restful” waters.”  Sheep are terrible swimmers and are afraid of moving, rushing water.  Their thick coats absorb and drag them down and under.  Shepherds know this and will make small dams to trap tranquil pools of water so that their sheep may drink without fear.  We are the same.  Pools of calm water speak to us of peace. Gentle, clear, safe, serene waters call to us. Thinking of this can help to draw us that peaceful place of trust and surrender in the arms of our Shepherd.  Phil 4:7 says that “the peace of God, which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  So come and rest by the still waters.

VS 3a: “He restores my soul (Amp Version says, He refreshes and restores my life.”  If you watch sheep in the pasture, you will find they do an interesting thing.  Sometime during the course of the day, each sheep will leave the flock and trots over to the shepherd, one at a time.  The shepherd tenderly caresses the nose, the ears, speaks softly in its ear.  Contented the sheep returns to the flock.  We also need affirmation and reassurance from God.  We need a “pep talk” now and then. 

VS 3b: “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”  Notice who leads; it’s so easy to get off the path; to get lost or caught up In the things of the world. Getting “off” is real danger.  We really do need our Shepherd.  Sheep have no homing instinct, no internal radar or guidance system.  We like the sheep need divine guidance.  When we remember that we cannot trust our own sense of direction we’ll learn to make the Word of God our final authority and totally depend on our Shepherd to lead us on the right path, the path of righteousness.

VS 4a: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me.”  If there is anything sheep need it is courage.  A sheep is totally defenseless; he has nothing with which to defend himself.  Why does the sheep need courage?  Next to a lion, a bear, a wolf the sheep is absolutely helpless.  When you are out there roaming the world, you also need courage.  We need courage to trust our Shepherd.  We have the tendency to fight our own battles, to do things ourselves, to attempt to fix it our way.  It’s when we fall flat on our face that we realize we should have trusted our Shepherd in the first place.  We don’t need to suffer defeat, the Shepherd has already won the battle for us…  we simply need to trust Him and take Him at His Word!

VS 4b:  “Your rod (to protect) and your staff (to guide), they comfort me.”   We build roofs to shield us from the weather. We build walls or fences to protect us from intruders.  We have storm cellars to protect us from tornadoes.  We save money, invest, buy insurance, install alarm systems – all for the sake of protection against something.  However we as sheep cannot build or erect anything of our own making.  We must rely completely on the Shepherd and on His rod and staff. We have no weapons of our own.    It is a great comfort to know God as our protector.  He is our body guard and ever watchful sentry.

VS 5a: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”  The pastures grew more than grass in Palestine. Poisonous plants also grew along side the paths that were fatal to the sheep. Some had sharp thorns.  Each spring the shepherd would take his pick and mattock and dig up these plants, pile them up and burn them. Only by rooting out the enemy plants could he make the pasture safe for the sheep.  We have had a table full of rich teaching, training and instruction so that we can take it and share it with the world – all while our enemy watches us. 

VS 5b: “You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.” The church is need of more of this today.  It is this anointing that gives us the power to do that allows signs, wonders and miracles to follow.  When the power of God is working in your life, you will have joy that flows like a river from your innermost being.  Joy unspeakable and full of glory!

VS 6: “Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord and in His presence forever.”   How awesome is that!?  Surely goodness and mercy are following you.  We are to be partakers of the inheritance.  But we must abide in the House of the Lord in order to partake.  Is He your Shepherd? Only if you claim him for your own can you partake of this inheritance.

We have been seeking His face through these verses in PS 23. We have found God’s ample provision for all the things that a Christian could desire.  Rest, refreshment, restoration, guidance, courage, comfort, bountiful supply, protection in every danger, power, goodness and mercy.  With all of this how could we lack for joy?   “The joy of the Lord is my strength, I shall not want!”  (Neh  8:10)

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