The role of the shepherd is to tend and care for the flock, therefore being one of His sheep David could say, “I shall not want”, or perhaps a better translation would be, “I shall not lack”, for so is the meaning of the Hebrew word. And justifiably we should add “any beneficial thing”, for He does not promise here to supply every carnal thing that dangles before our eyes; indeed James 4:3 says “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss (badly), that you may spend it on your pleasures.” God’s primary purpose is for the development and maturity of our inner man; “Then shall we know, if we follow on (run after) to know the Lord” Hosea 6:3 KJV; so we begin our journey with Him through faith in His “exceedingly great and precious promises…”, and then build on that beginning with the materials He has provided (none are lacking) “…so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:4,11. Isaiah 40:11 promises “He will feed His flock like a shepherd;” this has to do with tending and being a caretaker of the sheep. Psalm 34:10 says “The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” Yes, He does promise to supply our earthly needs along the journey. Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” Matthew 6:33. What things? Verse 31 tells us it is the things we need in this life. This does not mean we will not need to work with our hands or fight through battles. Even the great Apostle Paul at times was hungry, and suffered through many trials and dangers, 2 Corinthians 11:23-27, yet he knew his source and supply was through Christ and could write from a prison cell, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” Philippians 4:11, because his inner spirit man had been met with God’s supply, and he knew the shepherd was in control.
God is our source
By Rose Hill
We ask and we receive,
Because we obey Him and believe.
Jesus is our shepherd and faithful friend,
He promised to be with us till the end.
Unless otherwise noted Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright …1982 by Thomas Nelson Co. used by permission.