The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1 (KJV)
The Lord is my shepherd. What is a shepherd? A shepherd leads a flock of sheep to pasture, tends to them, and watches over them at night. Being a shepherd is dangerous and holds great responsibility.
The Lord God is our shepherd. He leads us in the path of life by giving us His word we can read and through prayer. We cannot always see how God is with us, but we are always in His sight. All of our needs are tended to by God. During the day, at night, and in the hard times, God never leaves us.
We are the Lord God’s lambs. As lambs we are vulnerable and susceptible to danger. I was listening to the story “A Peep Behind The Scenes” by Lamplighter Theater. In the story the girl is given a picture of the Lord as a shepherd. He has bruises and blood on Him from rescuing the hurt sheep He is holding in His arms. This picture illustrates the Lord’s love for us.
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Isaiah 40:11 (KJV)
The Lord suffered and died for us. He gave His blood to rescue us. There are times we need God to rescue us and care for us because we live in a sinful world. Dangers and injuries come from our own doings and from Satan. God is there to pick us up and hold us gently in His loving arms. We can find forgiveness and help through our loving shepherd, the Lord.
Do you feel like you caught in the briers and prickers sometimes? The Lord God, our shepherd knows what is best. He gives us plans in His word to help keep us from being caught. God will help us even if we have wandered away and put ourselves in the briers. He comes to us and softly and tenderly removes the briers that are entangling us.
I shall not want. The Lord God has everything we need. If there is something we need, God can provide it for us. This does not mean we will get everything we want. Our basics needs and sometimes our wants are taken care of when we are living for God. Our shepherd gives to us bountifully. We can take our needs and wants to the Lord in prayer and as the good shepherd He will care for us.
