A Verse of Defiance
Good morning, Immanuel. The Lord is our shepherd and there is no one we can trust more.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).
Sometimes it’s the familiar verses that are the most problematic. We’ve seen this verse embroidered on cushions, written in calligraphy, set against backdrops of fluffy sheep and charming meadows. But it’s a verse of defiance. At the front door of this Psalm David is asserting something precious and formidable. God is a shepherd. But that doesn’t mean we’ll have everything we want. It means we’ll lack nothing we need.
God is not promising every physical need will be met. It’s no guarantee against an accident, diagnosis, or injury today. He’s not promising every emotional need will be met. There may be mental health challenges, loneliness, and anxiety in this world. He is promising to meet our every spiritual need, lead us in his ways, and do his best for us. That will involve some dark valleys and cold shadows on the way. But the grassy uplands and still waters are ahead if we will follow him.
Today I need to pray that God won’t give me what I want, but what I need. I also need to pray that, more and more, what I want will be what I most need. It’s a lot to trust him with. But this shepherd is no stranger whose heart is hidden from us. He walks each step with us, an unfailing companion. More: he has scars and bruises; he walks with a limp, for this shepherd was willing to put himself in harm’s way to protect us, to suffer more than anything we could ever fear. There is no one we can trust more.
Thank you Sam,
This caused me to recall a post by Henri Nouwen:
Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and ask him more directly to give you joy, peace, and a pure heart. Purity of heart means a heart where God is the center of your attention. Take a simple sentence like “The Lord is my shepherd there is nothing I shall want,” and repeat that quietly during the day until the truth of it enters the center of your being. You will always continue to have feelings of depression, anger, and restlessness, but when God dwells in the center of the storm, the storm is less frightening and you can live with trust that in the midst of all of the darkness you will be led to a place of joy and peace.
"Consider him who endured such hostility against himself... so that you may not grow weary or lose heart." - Hebrews 12:3 (NRSV)