Psalm 23: A Song Written by Experience
Part 2 – "I Shall Not Want"
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
— Psalm 23:1 (KJV)
When David wrote, "I shall not want," he was not saying he had never experienced hardship. In fact, much of his life was marked by danger, uncertainty, and loss.
There were times when David had no palace to live in. He fled from Saul, hid in caves, depended on the kindness of others, and often did not know what the next day would bring. Yet through it all, he learned that the Lord never failed to provide exactly what he needed.
As a young shepherd, David watched over his father's sheep. He knew that a good shepherd searched for green pasture, found fresh water, and protected the flock from danger. The sheep depended entirely upon the shepherd.
Years later, David realized that he had been one of those sheep all along.
"I shall not want" does not mean God's people will possess everything they desire. It means that under the care of the Great Shepherd, they will never lack what God knows they truly need.
Looking back, David could see God's hand at every stage of his life.
God provided strength to defeat Goliath.
God provided Jonathan's friendship during lonely years.
God provided protection while Saul pursued him.
God provided faithful men who stood beside him in the wilderness.
God provided forgiveness and restoration after David's greatest failure.
God provided a kingdom according to His promise.
The Lord's provision was not always comfortable, but it was always sufficient.
David's confidence was not in his own ability, his army, or his wealth. His confidence rested in the Shepherd.
That same lesson still speaks today. Life may bring uncertainty, disappointments, or seasons when the future seems unclear. Yet the believer can rest in the same Shepherd who cared for David. Our wants are many, but God's provision is perfect. He knows our needs before we ask, and His care never fails.
David did not write, "I have never been in need." He wrote, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
Those words came from a lifetime of watching God faithfully provide.
A Thought to Remember
David was in the time of God's covenant with Israel and he was a "man after God's on heart. This doesn't mean the Lord isn't there for you. Remember these golden verses. Philippians 4:5-7 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing (Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything [Amplified Bible, Classic]) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Also
Galatians 6:2
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
The Greek word is βάρη (barē), the plural of βάρος (baros).
Meaning:
- A heavy weight.
- A crushing load.
- Something too heavy for one person to carry alone.
This is the kind of burden where a fellow believer should step in and help.
Galatians 6:5
"For every man shall bear his own burden."
The Greek word is φορτίον (phortion).
Meaning:
- A load.
- A pack or backpack.
- A personal assignment or responsibility.
- Something expected for one person to carry.
The same word is used by Jesus in Matthew 11:30:
"For my yoke is easy, and my burden (phortion) is light."
