The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

Explain

The Lord is Jehovah. Jehovah means Self-Existent One. Jehovah has no need outside of Himself. He has no cause for which He is the effect. He is the cause. He exists therefore we exist. He creates and is uncreated. He is perfectly Holy and without any lack, and David boldly proclaims that this Self-Existent Eternal being that has the ability to create and sustain is his shepherd.

Shepherd is a great word. Here it is used as a noun describing the role that the Lord fulfills for David who in the metaphor is clearly a sheep. The word can also be used as a verb. A shepherd shepherds. He guides. He feeds. He takes care of his sheep.

David was a shepherd. He knew what it meant to have responsibility over sheep. He knew the sheep need a shepherd because sheep lack the ultimate ability to fully take care of themselves. 

This Jehovah God is David’s Shepherd. This is the proposition for the rest of the Psalm. David is not David’s shepherd. People are not David’s shepherd. Certainly Satan is not David’s shepherd. David declares, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

Closely tied to this proposition is the following statement. “I shall not want.” This is not saying that David would have no desires. “Want” here means to lack anything that is needed. He is saying that with the Lord as his shepherd He will thrive. 

Apply

A single question comes to mind as I think about this verse. Who is my shepherd? The answer is always Jehovah for those who are believers, but in terms of following and trusting in a leader, is the LORD that in my life? Am I seeking to be lead by the Good Shepherd. If I do, then I will not “want”.

There are different kinds of wanting- different kinds of lack. People can have great material wealth and be empty spiritually. They can be surrounded by a multitude of “friends” and be lonely. 

To abide in Christ, our Great Shepherd, and to follow Him means that I will not lack. I want to do that today.

Respond

Lord, help me to follow you as my ultimate guide, source, and Lord. Amen