The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

This would be a psalm that we would do good to be the psalm that defines our lives and our praise. For when this mindset is driven deep within our hearts we then rightly come to the place in our character to be the that which God expects of us within our homes, schools, work places. That we will be content with the care and lot that we have been given. (how often do we grow discontent with our gifts, our talents, our treasures, our looks? I hope that you will see that there is no greater place to be than in the shepherds care.Time is to short for us to waste wishing we could be someone else that God didn’t create us to be.

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This is a psalm that David had wrote

The lord is my shepherd, I Shall not want.

To whom was David referring to?

To Jehovah the Lord God of Israel the great I Am.

Even Christ declared that he was “The good shepherd.”

As Christ calls himself the good shepherd the one worthy to have authority.

What is our cultures view of Jesus?

This is one of the reasons why i believe that this is a place of unreached people, for those who do have a knowledge of Jesus, have a false image of who he is.

To often our view of Christ is too cramped, to small, wimpy, too humanBecause of this view we are unwilling to Give Christ total control of our lives.

We need to have a better understanding of who Christ is, where he came from, and where he is now.

Reason number 1 he should have preeminence in our lives is because who he is and without him we do not have our beings.

He is the Galaxy breather. The star maker. Our creator and sustainer. He upholds our heart beat. He is the supplier of all our needs.

He created all things and in him we live move and breath.He doesn’t need anything from us, but caused life and breath to happen in our lives.

Psalm 24:1–2 NKJV

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

Psalm 24:1 NKJV

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.

, “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

, “Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. 26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being,

God is self-sustaining.

Creator of all that we see. 250,000,000 x 250,000,000 estimated stars in our universe and he knows them all by name. If it were not for the gravitational precision that God created our world for if it were a degree to one way or the other we could not exist.

When we pause to think on the person and power of Christ and who he really is we would understand the great blessing it is to say that the “Lord is my shepherd.”

A commentator said, “This statement immediately links a lump of clay to a piece of divine destiny.”

Who could better care for us?

The God who is from beginning to end. The one who created all things by His breath. The one who knows all things, who owns all things, and works all things for good.

Do we treat God in this light?

Why?

Listen to this defining work of Christ life for His sheep.

“I am the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for his sheep.”

This is because he is not a hireling, a thief, or a poor shepherd but rather a good shepherd who lays his life down for his sheep.It tells us in , “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

Again we see the benevolent care of Christ demonstrated at Calvary. He himself absorbed the penalty for their perverseness and waywardness.

Sheep do not take care of themselves but are timid, stubborn, and have perverse habits.

Their lot in life is greatly determined by the care of the shepherd they are under and to what extent he is willing to care for his sheep.

Its as if David was saying look at who my shepherd is.

He is constantly making intercession for us, guiding us by his holy spirit, and he is ever working on our behalf to ensure we benefit from his care.

There is nothing he allows us to go through or brings upon our lives that is intended for evil but rather is for us to become more like him. It is ultimately for our good. We benefit even from trials when God is our shepherd

“ might be called David’s hymn of praise to divine diligence for the entire poem goes on to recount the manner in which the good Shepherd spares no pains for the welfare of his sheep.

Author could think of tenant shepherd who had no business being a shepherd. He didn’t care for his sheep, allowed the ground to become a wasteland and would run at the sight of danger.

If we could only see the intimate involvement of God on our behalf day in and day out we would have a different attitude towards the Good shepherd.

The only proper thing to follow from the psalmist lips.

I shall not want.

What a proud, positive bold statement to make.

A sheep utterly satisfied with its owner, perfectly content with its lot in life.

To often we would only relate this word to understand no lack or deficiency as we are in the proper care, management and husbandry.

We will not starve.

The second meaning is being utterly content in the good shepherds care and consequently not craving or desiring anything more.

HOW OFTEN DO WE CRAVE THINGS OTHER THAN GOD?

WHAT IS IT THE THAT WE TURN TO IN OUR TIMES OF STRUGGLE? OUR TIMES OF PEACE?

When looking at the history of David and all that he had been through with Saul seeking his life as well as Absalom it would be absurd to think this related specifically in physical and material needs as we know he went through great privation, struggles, and anguish in spirit.

So to use this as a means that we will lack nothing or never have a need would be a false claim.When you look at biblical men such as Elijah, john the Baptist, Jesus himself, the disciples, and even modern men and woman that have dedicated their lives to service under the good shepherd had suffered great adversity and privation.

Even the Lord himself, the Good Shepherd says in this day you will have many trials, but fear not I have overcome the world.

We to often relate material prospering to Gods mark of blessing upon someones life but this is just not so.

, “ Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked”

Another Example that Jesus made clear to the rich young ruler in who wished to become his follower. He said there is one thing you lack. Go sell all that you have give it to the poor, then come follow me. It was his material blessing that was hindering his life from following Christ.

We as Christians have to take a different look at life and understand that you may be called to face hardships, privations, struggles as others have before you. while understanding that our sojourn upon this earth is short and may involve some of these things

Yet amid such hardships you can still boast, I shall not want…I shall not lack the expert care and management of my master.

Contentment should be the hallmark of the man or woman who has put their affairs in the hands of God.

But the paradox is the fact of the discontentment of these people who are ever speaking of security.Many striving for material wealth are spiritual bankrupt. They are restless, unsettled, covetous, greedy, wanting this or that yet never becoming satisfied.

The Lord is my shepherd, I will not want.”

I am completely satisfied with his management and care for my lifeBecause he is the sheepman to whom no trouble is too great as he cares for his flock.

He is the owner that delights in his flock“For him there is no greater reward, no deeper satisfaction, that that of seeing his sheep contented, well fed, safe, and flourishing under his care.”

HE will go to no end of trouble to labor to supply them with the finest grazing, the richest pasturage, ample winter feed, and clean water. He will spare himself no pains to provide shelter from storms, protection from ruthless enemies, and the diseases and parasites to which sheep are so susceptible.

Why is it that we grow so dissatisfied with Christ and His care?

He has come to give us life and life more abundantly

From dawn to setting sun he constantly is aware of the welfare of his flock.The diligent shepherd he rises early and goes first thing without fail to look over his flockHe can tell from a glance if something had happened last night, if one was ill, or if some needed some special attention. This was a process that was repeated throughout the day making sure they were on their feet. Even of the evening he would sleep with one eye and two ears open ready at the first sign of trouble to protect his sheep.

, “He will not allow your foot to be moved;

, “He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

, “Blessed be the Lord,

Who daily loads us with benefits,

The God of our salvation!”

In spite of having such a master and owner, the fact remains that some Christians are still not content with his control. They are somewhat dissatisfied, always feeling that somehow the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. These are the carnal Christians or might also be called…

Fence crawlers. The ewe that kept running the fence to find a way of escaper. Soon started to teach the other sheep bad habits. So for the sake of the other sheep this sheep had to go.

Buddy is a perfect example of fence crawling and leading others astray.

May we may not be like these sheep discontented with the masters care but wholly satisfied in Him.

You can fence crawl all day long and desire the pastures beyond the good shepherds fence, but i know that there is no greater blessed place to be then close to the good shepherd. There is nothing that can satisfy more than Him. There is nothing that you will find in all your venturing that will be greater than the pasture of God.

Be satisfied in Him and the content in His provision. Do not go looking beyond His care for it will only be acquainted with loneliness, anxiety, depression, malnourishment.