Therefore I Shall Not Want

Opening

Their are three active statements made by David in Psalm 23. “I shall not want,” “I will fear no evil,” and “I shall dwell.”

I shall not want.

Green Pastures, Still Water, by the path.

Psalm 23:2 ESV

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

There are many beautiful metaphors that roll from this beautiful song. It will do your soul good to think about how these words find meaning in your own journey. Am I in a season of green pastures? Where am I finding still waters to be refreshed. Its quickly apparent how this has become the most popular psalm through the ages.

When the good times roll like the hills of the ozark mountains its easy to believe the statement “I shall not want” because in those seasons life seems to go a bit more unnoticed.

Psalm 23:1 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The use of the word “shall” as opposed to what we see in verse 4 “will” is only different in its use in english, and even then just slightly. “shall” and “will” are both used to convey the future tense of a verb. So why change between them? two reasons: one: because they didn’t want to change the sound of the King James because people expect it to look a certain way. two: In modern English several Law journals recommend using shall but only to impose an obligation on a contractual party that is the subject of the sentence, i.e., to convey the meaning "hereby has a duty to."

SO in the sense we could rephrase psalm 23:1 to read: “Whereas the Lord is my Shepherd, Therefore I shall not want.”

The Lord is leading, and if we allow ourselves to move slightly past the imagery we see in verse 3 the true meaning of why we shall not be in want....

Psalm 23:3 ESV

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Its not that I’m always whole, or full, or at peace. But in fact are habitually poured out. But we shall not be in want because Our Lord & shepherd is always restoring our soul. He will not lead us to damnation or destruction because He will not sacrifice His reputation as a noble shepherd.

I will fear no evil.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

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.

In his name we find confidence, in our circumstance. Not every part of the journey is green and still. Some parts are in the valley, where their seems to be no way out…

your rod & staff bring comfort.

A table in the presence of my enemies

Psalm 23:5 ESV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I shall dwell.

Psalm 23:6 ESV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

My cup overflows