I SHALL NOT WANT – PSALM 23 – Part 3
Nada me faltará. – Salmos 23 – Parte 3
By Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sheep trust their shepherd. [This photographic image is courtesy of GospelGifs.com.]
Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (New King James Version)
Salmos 23:1 "Jehová es mi pastor; nada me faltará". (Reina-Valera 1960)
The sign said, "Estate Sale". I almost did not follow the arrows pointing to the house because I didn't need the sorts of things that such sales usually feature. For some reason, I found myself turning the steering wheel of my car toward the little house. As soon as I stepped inside, I noticed that the décor indicated that the home had belonged to a lifelong bachelor who had lived with his mother until her death. The frames on the walls displayed hunting scenes along with other masculine preferences.
As I brushed past potential buyers and walked through the house, something drew me to a side bedroom. There, in the corner of a closet was a box marked, "$1 each." The box overflowed with new men's socks that had obviously never been worn. Some still bore their original wrappers and price stickers that indicated they were expensive ones. The quality on the others showed. Many had cost more than $15 a pair! As I gathered up an armload, I figured that I had selected well over $150 worth of socks! I knew that my husband would be pleased with my thrift, but that does not describe his reaction. He was thrilled because he needed new socks! Those socks were of better quality than we could have afforded. God knew what my husband needed before he even asked!
I remembered this and other incidents of God's provision as I contemplated the last portion of the first verse of Psalm 23 this week. The Spanish Reina-Valera 1960 version translates to read, "Jehovah is my shepherd; nothing will be lacking to me." It means that God knows our needs and will meet them. He may not meet those needs in the way that we think we want them met, but He will provide.
God knows our needs better than we do. [Photographer: Susan Aceto, courtesy of Stockvault.net.]
We know God provides because Psalm 84:3 assures us that, "Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young—Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God." (New King James Version)
When David wrote the words, "I shall not want," he had fled from Israel's first king, Saul, who wanted to kill the former shepherd. David realized that he was now as defenseless as the sheep for which he had long cared. Similar to a sheep, David was now like a hunted animal stalked by a powerful predator! Having declared in the first part of this verse that God is his shepherd, David further stated his total trust in the Lord by declaring, "I shall not want."
What did David mean by those words? He was acknowledging that God was his Source. Only God understood his needs; only God could protect him and provide food and shelter for him. Like a sheep, David did not have to worry about his security, food, water, or shelter.
Think about it: David had to move from place to place to stay ahead of King Saul. How could he say that he didn't have to worry when Saul had people looking everywhere for him? (See 1 Samuel 23:19-23 for a reference to the king's spies.)
He could say it because David remembered that God had protected him when a lion and a bear each had one of his father's lambs in its mouth. He had killed each of those predators. When he later faced the nine-foot Philistine giant, Goliath, David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:37, New King James Version) The Lord did exactly that when he enabled David to kill Goliath with a stone. (See the previous posting, "My Shepherd", for more about that victory.)
Although Saul stood head and shoulders above everyone else in the kingdom, David had learned as a shepherd not to look at the size of his foe but to stay focused on the Lord. David's security was not in his weapon or in his ability to use it. Instead, David understood that his security came from the Lord.
Security is big business today because thieves have found ways to hack into private accounts and to take more than just money, but to steal identities. While it is all right to install alarms and buy insurance, true security and peace of mind comes from trusting the Lord for our protection and our needs. David trusted the Lord for his protection, food, and shelter when circumstances indicated that he might meet God at any moment in Heaven. Because of his confidence in the Lord, David outlived Saul and became king of Israel upon Saul's death.
The world may have changed since David wrote Psalm 23, but the Lord has not. He is still the same God. He met David's needs, and He can do the same for you. His abundance can exceed any need you may have if you trust Him. Like my husband, you may find yourself walking in luxury.
Bible Verses for the Week
Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." (New King James Version)
Salmos 23:1 "Jehová es mi pastor; nada me faltará." (Reina-Valera 1960)
Psalm 84:3 "Even the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, Where she may lay her young — Even Your altars, O LORD of hosts, My King and my God." (New King James Version)
Salmos 84:3 "Aun el gorrión halla casa, Y la golondrina nido para sí, donde ponga sus polluelos, Cerca de tus altares, oh Jehová de los ejércitos, Rey mío, y Dios mío. (Reina-Valera 1960)
1 Samuel 17:37 "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (New King James Version)
1 Samuel 17:37 "Añadió David: Jehová, que me ha librado de las garras del león y de las garras del oso, él también me librará de la mano de este filisteo. Y dijo Saúl a David: Ve, y Jehová esté contigo." (Reina-Valera 1960)
This long-eared brown sheep has decided to leave its provision to its shepherd. [Photographer: Rhema Prabhata, courtesy of Stockvault.net.]
Psalm 23 — 1) "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 2) He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3) He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever." (New King James Version)
Salmos 23 — 1) "Jehová es mi pastor; nada me faltará. 2) En lugares de delicados pastos me hará descansar; Junto a aguas de reposo me pastoreará. 3) Confortará mi alma; Me guiará por sendas de justicia por amor de su nombre. 4) Aunque ande en valle de sombra de muerte, No temeré mal alguno, porque tú estarás conmigo; Tu vara y tu cayado me infundirán aliento. 5) Aderezas mesa delante de mí en presencia de mis angustiadores; Unges mi cabeza con aceite; mi copa está rebosando. 6) Ciertamente el bien y la misericordia me seguirán todos los días de mi vida, Y en la casa de Jehová morareacute; por largos días." (Reina-Valera 1960)
