Tomorrow I'm going to Vanderbilt to have my yearly MRI to see what's going on with my brain tumor but for today I'm meditating on verse of the twenty third Psalm, "The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack." This bold and positive statement that David made wasn't based on a life that had been lived at ease. David knew what it was to suffer, his own son had sought to kill him after publicly humiliating him. Why then why would David make this statement that he had no lack?
David found his encouragement not in his position or situation; David encouraged himself in God. David had been a shepherd and he knew that the well being of the sheep depended on the shepherd. "The main thought," says one commentator, "is that of not lacking--not being deficient--in proper care, management or husbandry." At the heart of what David is saying is that no matter what hardships or difficulties he encountered in life he was confident that he would not lack the expert and tender care of the Good Shepherd. This is where I choose to center my thoughts as well.
This picture of God's care for his people is seen when He shepherded the children of Israel in the wilderness and led them to the Promised Land. "'Do not be afraid of them. (This is what He said because the children of Israel were afraid of the people who were greater and taller than they were and the people who lived in cities that were great and fortified.) The LORD your God who goes before you will himself fight for you, just as he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place. Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go."( Deuteronomy 1:29-33) The threats we face in life are real and they can consume us but we find comfort when we recognize that though our shepherd is leading us through the valley of the shadow of death He is with us.
Even if the LORD is your shepherd it can still be possible to not be aware of his presence and his provision. Again in Deuteronomy 29:4 Moses speaks of the signs and wonders God did for his people. "But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. I have lead you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet." Mercy and Grace had been following them but they were unaware of these blessings. So my payer is that God would open the eyes of my understanding so that I might be aware of how he has provided for my every need.
The benediction in the book of Hebrews speaks of Jesus as the great shepherd of the sheep who was able to equip us with every thing good that we might do his will. Here again is the assurance that because the Lord Jesus is my shepherd there is nothing I lack. Jesus encouraged his followers by saying, "Fear not little flock it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."(Luke 12:32) There is no need to fear when the Shepherd is near!
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