By Byron Garmo, President
David begins Psalm 23, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” Let’s not move away from this foundation of truth, nor skip over such eternal treasure for something of less worth. Here we have two references to our Messiah, the Shepherd-King (Psalm 28:9, Isaiah 40:11, Zechariah 9:16, John 10:11, 1 Peter 5:4). These preeminent titles were infinitely sealed and underwritten by His own shed blood.
We remember seasons of life when we didn’t trust the Lord to abundantly care for us. Maybe we approached each day with a perspective of scarcity. Scarcity, in the sense that maybe God hasn’t supplied enough.
To seek satisfaction in “I need God + [something else]” is terribly like the exploitation of Eve’s humanity in the Garden of Eden. The serpent craftily shifted her attention from who God is, to suggest that God hadn’t supplied enough for her—that God was limiting her potential to be like Him. Adam and Eve ate the fruit and incurred a debt of divine justice that no king in Israel—nor any human in history—could bear. Not until Christ came and substituted Himself for our sins. Eve did not become like God with that bite of the fruit. God could never contradict or act against His own word. Yet Eve proved to be … well, thoroughly human.
David does not begin Psalm 23 from a worldview of scarcity. He begins with a sense of abundance and friendship because of who cares for him. David doesn’t begin with what he has—but rather who God is.
Dear Christian: Remember with each day that God cares for you, that He leads you. As the Good Shepherd governs and cares for you through the seasons of life, embrace that He supports you each hour. The Lord will not let go of the believer (John 6:40).
“Jesus Christ took the place and fulfilled the destiny of man, as a creature, by His life of perfect humility. His humility is our salvation. His salvation is our humility.” – Andrew Murray
We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:20-21
