Not Left Wanting
I don’t know about you, but there are days when I get up in the morning feeling … “less than.”
Less of the man I want to be
Less able to physically do what I used to do
Less focused, attentive, alert
Then I come across a verse like the opening line of Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Often interesting is to look up one verse in various translations to see how scholars translate ancient Hebrew or Greek language into accurate and understandable text for modern minds to grasp. Since all we read is an interpretation of sorts, a good pursuit is to see any passage through different eyes. Here are some of the ways Ps.23:1 is put into English.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. NIV
The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need. NLT
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. The Message
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and to shield me]. I shall not want. Amplified
“I lack nothing.” “I have all that I need.” “I don’t need a thing.” But then, there is me between the sheets in the morning feeling lacking, needy, wanting. What do I do with this?
We can begin with understanding that God desires for us to be independently dependent on him for all our heart yearns for. Rather than first looking to our own devices and abilities for guidance and that sense of rightness in life, he calls us to follow his voice. He is shepherd, we are sheep, at our best when we follow.
Ray Stedman, who was pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, has a powerful and convicting thought about God as shepherd and we as sheep.
It struck me as I was studying this psalm that there are really only two options in life. If the Lord is my shepherd, then I shall not want; but if I am in want, then it is obvious that the Lord is not my shepherd. It is that simple.
If emptiness, loneliness, despair, and frustration exist in our lives, then the Lord is not our shepherd. Or if anyone or anything else is shepherding us, we are never satisfied. If our vocation shepherds us, then there is restlessness and feverish activity and frustration. If education is our shepherd, then we are constantly being disillusioned. If another person is our shepherd, we are always disappointed, and ultimately we are left empty.
That’s a bit rough, Ray. But following well begins with us recognizing that God calls us sheep, and that’s not all that great.
You’ve probably heard talks or read about the nature of sheep, that they aren’t so bright, tend to get themselves into trouble in the most routine matters, can panic when they sense real or imagined trouble, and look around for someone to lead them. One commentator says sheep are dumb and dirty, timid and defenseless, and don’t even know enough to come in out of the rain.
Sounds like me…and perhaps some of you!
Taking how we might describe sheep and pinning that on me stings a bit, but if I step back and look take inventory of my heart and actions, I see truth in these descriptors. Think about it,
I can be going along just fine and then foolishly stumble into some mess
When life gets crazy, I can get spun up with worry or anger or fear
I can be swayed by voices I know aren’t speaking like Jesus, but sound good
At times I’m not even bright enough to come in out of the rain
But the upside of all this is that God says I am one of his flock, and when I follow his voice and guidance, he leads me to the places where I have all I need. This implies he is committed to his sheep, to you and me. With all our flaws, he never quits shepherding, moving us along through life. His eye is on each one of the flock as well as the flock as a whole. And much more!
How can the psalmist make a claim of satisfaction that in God, he’s got enough? Trust and track record.
God, even to those living the most broken-down lives, remains a faithful shepherd, and those following see his fingerprints in life. That’s his track record in your life. This encourages trust, even when the way ahead looks uneven, dry, dangerous, and lonely.
Listen to the rest of Psalm 23.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Even a quick glance down these verses shows that his following sheep …
are led by the shepherd to places of genuine rest
feel refreshed like a drink from a cold spring on a hot day
enjoy a renewal of strength to go again
are guided and prompted to move in healthy directions
display unusual courage in hard times
live with divine protection while living sheep-like lives
overflow with the blessings of a loving Shepherd, now and always
Lying in the pre-dawn dark with the cold air from outside stuffing me a bit deeper into the blankets, I too easily think sheep-without-a-shepherd thoughts. Lies that derail. Memories that haunt. Emotions that sway. And then I remember.
The Lord is my shepherd. I have everything I need.
Though you will wander, he will find you. Though you might waver, he remains steadfast. Though you doubt, he doesn’t turn his back when you question. Though you can be dirty and stinky, he grabs you and draws you in for a long, tight, reassuring hug.
And I’m just like you, part of his flock, called by his name, commissioned to his kingdom program. You and I have everything we need.
Let’s follow his voice together, just today.
Music for a week
Cute Funnies or Bad Jokes…you decide
A 55-year-old man who was born on May 5, had been married 5 years, had 5 children, and made $55,555.55 a year. Of course, his lucky number was 5.
The man receives a phone call from a friend. The friend informs him that a horse named Lucky 5 will be running in the fifth race at the local track that evening.
Excitedly, the man withdraws $5,555.00 cash from his bank account, goes to the races and bets on Lucky 5.
Sure enough the horse comes in fifth.
****************
A young man named John applied for a salesman's job at a big department store. It was one of the biggest stores in the world—you could get anything there.
The boss said, "You can start tomorrow and I'll come, and see you when we close up."
At the end of the next business day the boss came around and asked, "How many sales did you make today?"
"One," said the young salesman.
"Only one?" blurted the boss, "Most of my staff make 20 or 30 sales a day. How much was the sale worth?"
"Three hundred thousand, three hundred and thirty four dollars," said John.
"How did you manage that?" asked the boss.
"Well, this man came in and I sold him a small fish hook, then a medium hook, and finally a really large hook. Then I sold him a small fishing line, a medium one, and a big one. I asked him where he was going fishing, and he said down the coast. I said he would probably need a boat, so I took him down to the boat department and sold him that twenty foot schooner with the twin engines. Then he said his car probably wouldn't be able to pull it, so I took him to the truck department and sold him the new Deluxe version we have."
The boss took two steps back and asked in astonishment, "You sold all that to a guy who came in for a fish hook?"
"No," answered John, "he came in to buy a present for his mother-in-law, who'll come to visit on Friday, so I said to him, 'Well, since your weekend's messed up, you might as well go fishing.'"