Psalm 23:1: Where Contentment Comes From

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." Psalm 23:1

This morning, we come to another great psalm of David. As we've been reading through David's life, we've paused to take some time to look at the Psalms that he wrote. Although we don't know exactly when he wrote many of his Psalms amidst his life, what we do know is that David wrote these Psalms (at least, the ones that specifically tell us in the superscription). It has truly been a joy for me to read the Psalms while simultaneously reading through David's life, as it has allowed me to understand how he leaned on the Lord his God in most of his circumstances (although he was far from perfect!). This morning, we come to the great Psalm 23. I've blogged about a few times before, so this morning I want to just look at the first verse. Ultimately, this verse teaches us about contentment.

In the beginning of this most famous psalm, David starts out with a bold statement: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Let's divide this verse into two phrases. First, David states that the Lord is his shepherd. By God's grace, David has been saved from his sin, just like you and I have been saved from our sin (that is, if we have called upon the Lord). Therefore, David states that the LORD is his shepherd. Rather than having death be his shepherd, as is true for those who follow after sin (see Ps. 49:14), David proclaims that God is his the one who shepherds him.

But what is a shepherd? Well, David was a shepherd, so he would know best. Sadly, we can't talk to David, so we'll have to do some research ourselves. Firstly, let us notice that shepherds most often shepherded sheep. Although this may seem obvious, let us note that sheep are one of the dumbest animals on the planet. They truly cannot think for themselves. They are helpless without a shepherd. Thus, when David states that God is his shepherd, David is implicitly showing his own desperation. Like a literal sheep needs a literal shepherd, so much more does David need one to guide him amidst his own inadequacy.

Furthermore, let us realize the duties of a shepherd. Firstly, we find that shepherds lead. Sheep do not know where to go on their own, but their shepherd shows them where to go that they might be fed (see v. 2-3). Secondly, we find that shepherds protect. David gives us an inside view of shepherding in v. 4 of this Psalm when he speaks of a shepherd's "rod" and "staff." The shepherd's staff would be used for leading the sheep to where they ought to go, as we have already looked at. However, the shepherd's rod would be used to protect the sheep from animals that tried to attack it. Let us not forget about Jesus' parable about leaving the 99 sheep to go and find the 1! Surely good shepherds do everything they can to protect their sheep from harm.

Yet all of these ideas of the LORD being David's shepherd do not leave David without application. In view of all of the LORD's goodness in his shepherding, David only has one response: I shall not want. David here is implying that if the LORD is truly his shepherd, that is, his ultimate guide and protector, the source of his peace, protection, and provision, what more could he want? David is fully aware of the LORD's goodness and guidance towards his account, and thus he desires nothing else. He knows that the LORD will lead him to where he needs to go, give him what he needs to be sustained, and protect him from the terrors that rage against him. In light of this, he responds: there is nothing else on earth that I now desire.

Surely this same truth ought to be true of us. Yet, I find it interesting how David phrased this thought. He did not say, I shall not want, because the LORD is my shepherd. Rather, he states that the LORD is my shepherd, [therefore] I shall not want. It may seem like a small difference, but notice here: David is completely in awe of who God is to him, and this, and only this, leads to his contentment. He does not force himself to try to be content and only after doing so turns to God to fulfill him. Rather, his contentment is a natural overflow of his awareness of his Shepherd. So it ought to be for us as well. Rather than trying to gain contentment on our own, we ought to behold our God. Having the mindset of not wanting anything does not come from a forced mental attitude, a psychological practice, or even reading the right Bible verses. Contentment comes from beholding the God who has promised to be your shepherd.

I pray that this contentment may be true of you today, as you gaze upon the beauty of your Great Shepherd.