You could know the answers without actually experiencing the answers. Psalm 23 has brought comfort to many for many years. When Christian life is lived to the fullness then there is no better way to live our lives.

1 – “I shall not want” – Supply

God’s commitment to his children is such that we will not be in want. See Psalm 84:11 & 34:9. There is no want to those who fear Him. Here are some things that this verse does not promise:-

• It does not promise wealth. You will not necessarily prosper financially. Look at Elijah, the apostles and Jesus. They did not have great wealth.
• It does not promise health. Some would say that anyone who comes to Christ should not get sick and if you do get sick it is due to a lack of faith on your part. The cross did not bring physical healing and promise of health. The Apostle Paul was not healed and those who think of themselves with more faith than Paul are indeed arrogant!
• It does not mean happiness. It does not mean you will not be discouraged or have hard times. God brings hard times to those whom He loves. See Hebrews 12:5-6.

What does it promise? Here are some things that God does promise:-

• It does mean to meet the basic needs of life – food, clothing and shelter.
• It does mean to need no other shepherd.

2 – “I shall not want” – Self-Control

Life can be difficult if we keep on wanting things. Pain comes into our lives by wanting things. We need to come to place in our lives where we have contentment. We have the Lord and He is all I need.

3 – “I shall not want” – Security

It is a statement of confidence. The more the Lord is in our lives the less we want things. When we have the Lord we don’t need things. We can get all we need from getting closer to the Lord. We don’t need to have a great car but we do need the Lord as our Shepherd.

4 – My shepherd

We need a shepherd because we are just like sheep. How are we like sheep?

• We are prone to follow. We follow what is in style. We are too trusting.
• We are vulnerable. Most farm animals don’t require much assistance. Sheep need a shepherd. They are vulnerable and weak. See Isaiah 53:6. Sheep are prone to go off on their own and get into trouble.
• We are stubborn. We want to do things our way. You can’t make it alone in the Christian life. Stop acting like a sheep without a shepherd. Jesus is the chief shepherd and a Pastor/Elder is an under-shepherd. The shepherd will protect us.

He is “my” shepherd. We need to make a personal decision. He is either your shepherd or he is not. See John 10:27. Do you hear the Lord’s voice? You know in your heart that it is right. If you don’t hear his voice you are not in a good place. His sheep hear his voice. You are also to follow Christ. You are to keep on following. You fall down, get back up again and follow. A shepherd checks out the ground before letting the sheep there.

5 – Lord

The word “Lord” is the unique special name for God. It was not to be spoken. It was either “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”. It was not a title.

• It was a personal name. This word also speaks of power. He is a holy righteous God who is so above us. The 23rd Psalm is personal.
• It was a powerful name – There is a Holy righteous God. We are a speck in the universe. If we went to the nearest star and looked for the Earth we could not see it.

Categories: Psalms