“I Shall Not Want”?

When the Psalmist says The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want, Does it mean that you shall not lack anything?

Seriously, that's the impression you get if you read the verse in other translations. You see things like you shall “not lack”, “never be in need”, “have everything you want”, etc. One wonders where theses Bible translators get such happy-go-lucky pictures from.

The notion that a Believer — ipso facto — would not have any unmet need is naïve, childish and… Biblical!

Ps 34:10 says, “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not lack ANY GOOD THING.”

Previously (vs 9) it said, “there is NO LACK to them that fear (the LORD).”

Ps 84:11 says, “NO GOOD THING will (God) withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Even in the New Testament, the LORD promises to “supply ALL your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19).

And Rom 8:32 reminds us that “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”

Beloved, do not let human experience, logic or philosophy rob you of the blessings in God’s Word. Whether you read that Ps 23:1 in the ancient Hebrew Masoretic, the Greek Septuagint, the Latin Vulgate, Olde English Wycliffe or ‘New English’ CEV… they will all tell you the same thing:

“because God is your shepherd, you shall not lack anything!”

Are you going to keep rationalising that truth away? Or are you going to agree with God and make it your reality today?

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN