Psalm 23:1
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalms 23:1
Jehovah Rohi
Two allegories are highlighted in this Psalm and they are beautifully adapted to support David’s revelation of who God is. The first is that of a shepherd which is translated from “Yahweh Rohi” and the second is that of a flock set out to meet their host who has prepared a feast: excellent pasture with the most nutritive and abundant food (A. Clarke. 1826). Jesus later reiterates this verse by referring to himself as a good shepherd (John 10:14). Jehovah the almighty, all-powerful, ever-present God cares tenderly for those who belong and trust him just like a shepherd does for his flock.
Shepherds in the old testament were responsible for the protection of the flock from predators and guiding them to fresh pastures with plenty of food and accessible flowing water. This also involved rescuing the straying sheep from dark places, carrying the sick, gathering the small lambs into the shepherd’s fold and gently leading those who were still nursing. He could not fall asleep in the night and he had to faithfully keep watch on the flock. When a single sheep would wander off and get injured, he would leave the rest and minister on the single one.
A Personal Shepherd
In this same way, it is impossible for the flock following this shepherd to lack anything. How can they? The silver and gold are his and so does the cattle on a thousand hills and therefore he is well able to sustain them. God has all that we need and his heart is full of love for mankind; he will never withhold anything good from us. The “my” in “the Lord is my shepherd” shows the level of intimacy He has with his flock. This is a testament by David of how the care God manifested to him was so personal. Christ also by virtual of God’s gift, his own purchase and by his sacrifice on calvary qualifies us to personify our walk with him as our personal shepherd. This is the great confidence that all believers have in God that “ If the Lord is MY shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want anything that is really necessary and good to me.”
A Protecting Shepherd
It doesn’t matter the valleys or the low points in your life. Whenever we face troubles or heartache we must never doubt or be afraid because of the constant assurance of his presence. The shepherd will always place himself between us and the attacks of the evil one. He is willing to die protecting the sheep willingly, vicariously and victoriously. Jesus became the sacrificial shepherd for us and he victoriously won the battle over death and sin (John 10:15-17).
Whenever I think about the love that God has for us I am reminded of the song, “Lord you are more precious than silver, costly than gold, beautiful than diamonds and nothing I desire compares to you.” If you have not yet asked the Father to forgive you of your sins, I pray you will. Receive Jesus as your saviour and then you can proclaim with confidence, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”
King James Version (KJV)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
New International Version (NIV)
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
New American Bible (NASB)
“The Lord is my shepherd, Iwill not be in need.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need!”