I Shall Not Want

The Shepherd’s Psalm

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.[1]

Introduction

Previously we looked at the first five words of this simple hymn, “The LORD is my shepherd.” Today we will begin looking at seven simple statements from David with the understanding that “The LORD is my Shepherd.”

Those seven statements are:

I shall not want (Ps 23:1)

He makes me / leads me (Ps 23:2)

He restores / leads me (Ps 23:3)

I walk / I will not fear (Ps 23:4)

You comfort me (Ps 23:4)

You prepare / anoint (Ps 23:5)

I will dwell (Ps 23:6)

I Shall Not Want

The first of David’s statements is very interesting and stinging at the same time. David openly declares that he has no wants. “I have no wants.” When I was in college and studying Psychology, I found it interesting that several chapters in my PSYC book focused on the human’s “Wants, Needs, and Desires.” According to Psychiatrists, it is part of what makes us human. It is part of the driving force of making humans competitive with each other. To cross the finish line ahead of others or to roll the final strike for the perfect game in bowling are goals, and according to all the physical health guru’s, we need to visualize what we would look like at the final weight and body mass. However, until then, life is a struggle. Life is filled with challenges and for the most part, our “Wants, Needs, and Desires” have a tendency to change as well.

Humans are rarely satisfied.

John D. Rockefeller was asked, “How much money does it take to make a man happy?” to which he replied, “Just one more dollar.”

Humans are rarely satisfied, and it is my opinion that few have mastered the idea of “I shall not want.”

That is what makes David’s declaration so impactful. “I Am Satisfied!”

“I Am Satisfied!” - David

A New Testament Comparison

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth a second time. It is a letter filled with correction, compassion, and comfort. Between Paul’s two letters to the congregation at Corinth, he received a letter from the congregation concerning his first epistle. In it were answers and questions. The eleventh chapter contains a testimony of the cost of serving the Living Christ. He sums up what it cost him beginning in the twenty-second verse.

2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, the who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, 33 but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

And yet, the Apostle Paul was “content.

Philippians 4:10-13 (ESV) I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need.

It is interesting that the Greek word used for “need/want” is “hysteresis” which carries the idea of “falling short.” Therefore, in this instance, Paul is saying that his “hysteresis” is met and he has nothing that has fallen short. However, I would like to point out that doubtless, Paul had situations of necessity. He had times of want, but he learned to be content in whatever situation that he faced: imprisonments, shipwrecks, beatings, and hunger.

For I have learned, in whatsoever situation I am to be content.

He was shipwrecked. He was beaten. He hungered. Nonetheless he learned to rely on the LORD and he had the mindset to be content, no matter the situation.

Proverbs 15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

I Shall Not Want

David, much like the mature Christian, has learned that being content in the current situation you are placed is Peace! A Peace that passes all understanding.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

David was raised in Judaism and understood the three components of the Peace Offering. A Peace Offering was made as an offering of Thanks unto the Lord for His care and provision. Secondly, the Peace Offering was used as a result of gratefulness of a petition or prayer being answered. And, thirdly, the Peace Offering as a method of piety.

However, let us not miss the reason that David “shall not want.” It is because the LORD is his Shepherd.

Conclusion

Want – Hebrew – “chacer” – “have a desire to possess or do.”

There are several words that we could use in the place of “want.” “Hunger, need, lack, absence, desire, crave, require, miss, and lust.”

The person that does NOT “want” would exhibit, “Filled, plenty, enough, abundance, satisfaction and contentment.”

To be “content” is the opposite of want. David had learned to be content because,

The LORD is my Shepherd.

One of the greatest blessings a Christian can have is not found in the Fruit of the Spirit. It is not found in the Gifts of the Spirit. The greatest blessing for a Christian to attain is to learn to be content.

A contented Christian is one who:

Has learned to become a servant of Jesus Christ.

Wholly trusts in the plan that the LORD has for you.

Internally is satisfied which does not change with outside circumstances.

Content with whatever situation the LORD leads you or allows for you as being wise and loving providence of the LORD for our own good.

The results of a Christian not being content are found in the fruit of “impatience, restlessness, and discontent.”

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 23:1–6.