I really believe those words in the prayer yesterday brought some comfort to those heart-broken folks. As I left the hospital, thinking about this psalm as it pertained to that family awaiting death and given I would preach from it this morning, I remembered Holladay’s book title and considered that through more than 3,000 years, these words have brought comfort to countless numbers of people who have been overwhelmed by death’s presence. They will continue to do just that for generations to come. I certainly have been one of those who has benefited and I continue to benefit from this very old word that was penned by a Jewish shepherd named David. And who hasn’t profited from them? I can personally think of none. But is its only concern for those who are walking the darkened and rugged path of death? There is just something within my being that cries out, “Of course not.”

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Truth be known, it may be more important for this psalm to be read and heard as a word about living since it puts all daily activities — such as eating and drinking and seeking security, which includes handling death — into a thoroughly God-centered viewpoint that confronts our routine way of thinking.2 And that typical way of thinking needs to be challenged in this consumer-driven culture that doesn’t believe as much in supply as it does demand.

So back to my question: Is it possible that we have it all wrong? In fact, I think we do have it wrong. It is extremely difficult to hear the simple but radical message that lies deep in the refreshing waters of Psalm 23. It is an uncompromising point that says God is the single essential of life. Did you hear that? God is the single essential of life — your life and my life. That is such a graceful and humbling point, too. And I sense that it is this grace and humility that calls out from the depths of the 23rd Psalm that so many of us have missed and are continuing to miss. God is the single essential of life.

And because He is, we are to remember — or realize for the first time — that God will supply our need. Our need will be met as He leads us. Unfortunately because the world as we know here in the USA is driven by greed rather than need, most people can hardly imagine having only the essentials of life — food, drink, shelter, protection; you know, the things that are necessary. And so there are a lot of well-intentioned people, church people mind you, who go through life, either consciously or sub-consciously, making demands of God instead of trusting God to supply. I’m sorry to say as a result of this the words “I shall not want” ring with an utter hollowness.

In the language of the Old Testament, the ancient Hebrew word translated want is not so much focused on the idea of “demanding” or “desiring” something as it is on “lacking” something needed. David does not mean that the Lord takes care of us by giving us everything we demand. Instead, those persons who trust in the Lord, just as sheep trust a shepherd, will never lack anything they need. In other words, their need will be supplied. It will be met as the Lord leads. And look at what He supplies those whom He leads.