March 29

From: Continual Burnt Offering: Daily Meditations By: Henry Allan Ironside

Psalm 23:1

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” —Ps. 23:1.

SOMEONE has said, “Psalms 23 is the best loved of all the Psalms and it is the one least believed!” Do we really believe it? We all love it; do we not? Its beautiful imagery, its wonderful idyllic poetry, its expressions of confidence in Jehovah, our Great Shepherd, appeal to every discriminating and Spirit-taught mind. But do we know the blessedness of resting upon its implied promises? When out of employment, laid aside by illness, or facing bereavement, are we able to say from the heart, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want?” Not want what? Another psalm answers, “They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing” (Psa. 34:10¹⁰The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. (Psalm 34:10)). And again, “There is no want to them that fear Him” (Psa. 34:9⁹O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. (Psalm 34:9)). Why, then, should the child of God ever be troubled and distressed by thoughts of future ill? God is over all and He is undertaking for us.

Since the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want:

Rest— “He maketh me to lie down.”

Refreshment— “He leadeth me beside the still waters.”

Restoration— “He restoreth my soul.”

Guidance— “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.”

Confidence—”I will fear no evil.”

Companionship— “Thou art with me.”

Comfort— “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Provision— “Thou preparest a table.”

Unction— “Thou anointest my head:’

Satisfaction— “My cup runneth over.”

Protection— “Goodness and mercy shall follow me.”