Relationship & Supply

In continuation of last week and the highlights

The Lord is my Shepherd; “Relationship ” let me take the opportunity to elaborate. The infinite Lord assumes the character of a Shepherd! It should be the subject of grateful admiration that the great God allows himself to be compared to a Shepherd . David himself is familiar with the text , he understands being keeper of the sheep, needs of the sheep and the cares of being a Shepherd. He took God to be his Provider , Preserver and Everything. No man has a right to consider himself the Lords sheep unless his nature has been renewed ( the scriptural description of a believer and non believer) . Sheep is ones property , not a wild animal. It’s owner sets great store by It being bought with a great price. Dear folks talking about price (death on the cross for you and me ) to redeem you from death , and eternal destruction to Life , Liberty and Eternal life. We must cultivate the spirit of absolute dependence upon our Heavenly Father. David says “my” he does not say the Lord is the Shepherd of the world at large, and leaders for the multitude as his flock “but” The Lord is my Shepherd. If he be a Shepherd to no one else, he is a Shepherd to Me, He care for Me , watches over Me and Preserves Me . The words are in the present tense.

the first statement – they are sententious and positive – “I shall not want.” I might want otherwise, but when the Lord is my Shepherd he is able to supply my needs, and he is certainly willing to do so, for his heart is full of love, and therefore “I shall not want.” I shall not lack for temporal things. Does he not feed the ravens, and cause the lilies to grow? How, then, can he leave his children to starve? I shall not want for spirituals, I know that his grace will be sufficient for me. Resting in him he will say to me, “As thy day so shall thy strength be.” I may not possess all that I wish for, but “I shall not want.” Others, far wealthier and wiser than I, may want, but I shall not.” “The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” It is not only “I do not want,” but “I shall not want.” Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, “I shall not want.” Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom shall not find me destitute. I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because “The Lord is my Shepherd.” The wicked always want, but the righteous never; a sinner’s heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in the palace of content

Trust this touched your heart and was a blessing

Rev. Mathew

Continue next week