I lack nothing
6 December 2017
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
There are texts in Scripture that are powerful, so deep, that to recite them is to experience them. Psalm 23 is one of those texts. As one scholar said, “The psalm itself is green pasture; the psalm itself is still water; the psalm itself restores my soul.”
The weary find solace, the wounded find healing, the hungry are filled, the thirsty are quenched, the fearful find comfort, the tired are refreshed. The worshiper finds intimacy with the Lord.
This psalm is David’s testimony, his personal experience with God.
David really believed this about God. This is not a poetic exaggeration or theoretical theology; it is David’s experience of God. David heard His voice, followed His lead, felt His care. Beneath the beauty of his words, there are solid convictions.
Through this psalm, David tells us how to be fearless in adversity. He tells us that even in the valley of the shadow of death, he didn’t dread the distress. How did David do this? David tells us his confidence came from three sources:
1. He stayed in God’s presence:
In v. 4, David says;
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
2. He saw God’s power:
David said he had no fear in adversity because of the comfort of God’s power, protecting him from that which could ruin him.
3. He experienced God’s leading:
David felt comforted that his Shepherd was guarding his steps, making sure that he makes it through the darkness safely.
David was supremely confident, not only about his present circumstances, but of grace in the future that would see him all the way home. He believed that valley times were appointed for His good. He stayed close, trusted in God’s protection and guidance all the way.
And so can we.