Jump Start # 3308

Psalms 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

Our verse today opens that well known and much loved shepherd Psalm. Within these short six sentences, there are thirteen references to God and seventeen references to the writer. This is a very personal Psalm. Because of the Lord, we are not in want. The Lord provides.

God created us to want. We are created to want food. We are created to want a purpose and meaning. We are created to want a relationship with others. Physically, socially, and spiritually, man craves for substance and fulfillment. Ever since the garden, Satan has been trying to redirect our wants and to fill our needs with the inferior, the temporary and the cheap. And, what we find is that those things do not last nor do they satisfy.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

First, I shall not be in want for guidance and love. God is there. God cares. God provides. His word is a light in a dark world. His love lifts up the broken hearted. When no one else cares, God does. When no one else has time, God does. When no one else understands, God does. When no one else listens, God does. Now, God is not the divine counselor’s couch in Heaven. He is the Lord of Heaven and Earth. His will ought to be our will. But to think that some one so important, so busy, and has so many tasks to complete as our God does, but still has time, all the time for you. Simply amazing!

Second, God knows what we need, often more than we do. We think we need rest, and God knows that we need to push through and keep going. We think we need a break, and God puts great challenges before us. We think we can’t carry any more, and God knows that we can. We think a little wrong won’t hurt anyone. God knows better.

Jesus said that even before we pray, God knows what we need. We need salvation. We need fellowship. We need to help others. And, when we think all we want to do is sit in a nice chair and watch a movie, God knows we need to drop to our knees and pray. When we feel like sleeping in, God knows that we need to get to worship.

Third, God gives much more than just a little. Because of our Heavenly Shepherd, we will not want. The needs are fulfilled and taken care of. It’s not just a little bit, there no longer is a need or a want. When Jesus fed the five thousand, not only was everyone satisfied, but there were twelve baskets of leftovers. God provided more than just enough. God is like that. He will bless you in ways you cannot imagine. He will help you greater than you expected.

Fourth, the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is that of trust. The shepherd knows where the green pastures are. The shepherd knows where the quiet waters are. Do we try to venture out and find them ourselves or do we simply follow the Shepherd?

God knows how to restore broken relationships. Do we trust Him or do we try to fix things on our own? God knows how to raise children. Do we trust Him or do we listen to what the “experts” tell us? God knows the value of fellowship? Do we? God knows the need to feed our souls? Do we?

It’s easy to pick out the passages and principles from the Bible like we are at a buffet table. We just take the items that we like. And, with that, we can pick out just wonderful stories about Jesus and ignore the hard truths about doctrine, fellowship, and, discipline. Just eating our favorites over and over doesn’t give us the complete picture. God knows what we need and it’s all the Bible. It’s the parts that are hard. It’s the parts that some call boring. It’s the parts that are not familiar to us. Man shall live on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God is what our Lord said. Every word.

I shall not be in want. A child trying to say Psalm 23 from memory, stated, “God is my shepherd and that’s all that I need.” Well said!

Roger

Jump Start # 2627

Psalms 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

With those simple nine opening words, comes the most beloved, memorized and cherished of all the Psalms. The Lord is my shepherd, describes the activity of God and the personal relationship the Lord had with the writer, David. Indeed, God is the Lord of Heaven and Earth. He was the God of the nation Israel. But none of those things mattered if He was not the God and shepherd of David personally.

And, the same is true for us. The congregation can be connected, engaged and faithfully following the Lord, but am I? Am I along for the ride or is the Lord my shepherd as well? When Thomas saw the resurrected Jesus, he declared “My Lord and My God,” which literally means, “The Lord of me,” and “The God of me.”

The Lord is my shepherd. What should that mean to you personally? What does that look like?

First, from our perspective it means we follow the Lord. We obey the Lord. We may not understand why we have to forgive, but that is what the Lord wants us to do. It means to trust the Lord. When we pull back, argue and fuss with what the Bible says, we are not allowing the Lord to lead us. And, leading is what shepherds do. They do not drive the flock. They do not tell the flock where they ought to travel to. They are right there leading. Shepherds are examples to follow. Don’t get ahead of the shepherd and don’t fall too far behind where you can’t see him. Keeping your eyes on Jesus, is how Hebrews puts it. Romans says to be conformed to His image. Corinthians were told to imitate Jesus. Where He goes, we need to be.

Second, my faith is tied directly to the Lord. My faith isn’t run through the congregation. The congregation is necessary and helpful, especially for worship and encouragement, but things could go sour with each other down at the church house, without it changing my faith in the Lord. We serve the Lord. We follow the Lord. It is easy to let the atmosphere of the congregation influence my mood and faith. If things are going well, then my faith is. But if things are turbulent, then so is my faith. That shouldn’t be. The Lord is my shepherd, not the church. If the church falls apart and disbands, my faith remains with the Lord. If the church gets wiggly and stops following the Lord, what will you do? Some just go right along with the church. Not me. As for me and my house, we will follow the Lord. Our faith is with the Lord. We may stand at odds with what is going on down at the church house. There may be a time when we have to part ways with the church because of the direction it is going. None of that will impact my faith, because my faith is with the Lord.

Third, it means the Lord has your well being in mind. And, what the Lord wants is for you to succeed spiritually. Just as a Judean shepherd would want his sheep to be healthy, fat, and well, so does the Lord, but spiritually. And, to get you there, the Lord may have you cross some rugged territory, go through some deep valleys and have you shaken to the core to get you where you need to be spiritually. Having your house paid off early doesn’t mean much to the Lord. For thousands of years, His people never owed a house. Having your yard weed free, looks great in the neighborhood. That doesn’t do much for the Lord. Moses and his people dwelled in a wilderness for decades. Being in a position to retire, means a great deal to us. It doesn’t to the Lord. The apostles lived in a time when retirement, as we know it, never exited. But having a heart that is compassionate, hands that are willing to serve and feet that want to follow the Savior, is what God wants. If it means breaking us to get there, then that’s a good thing. We have trouble with that. It was good that the prodigal became broke and fed pigs. That opened his eyes to where he ought to be. God wants you strong spiritually. He’ll put opportunity, people, challenges and even problems before us that will make us rely upon what we know, and what we believe. These things will make us stronger and better. They will make us shine brightly for Him.

Forth, it means that we stay with the Lord always. The Lord is my shepherd is not a one time deal. It’s not just a salvation thing. It’s a way of life. It’s a direction and path in life. It’s a journey of a lifetime. We never leave the side of our Savior. We never let the Lord get out of our sight. Year after year, decade after decade, the more we have followed the Savior, the more convinced we are of how right all of this is. Duty is not the word. It is pleasure. Joy. Satisfaction. Trust. Love. The Lord will be with you through sadness, heartaches, funerals, disappointments, tears, smiles, and precious memories. The Lord is my shepherd. That’s a statement of life. That’s just how it is. And, following this shepherd will shape your attitude, mold your heart and give you wisdom to deal with a broken and crazy world.

The Lord is my shepherd. Have you thought about those simple words. What do they mean to you? Does the Lord see this by the way you conduct yourself? Do others see this by your choices in life? The Lord is. He is my Shepherd.

Powerful, powerful words.

Roger