The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
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He makes me lie down in green pastures
Not Want? Maybe you have this Psalm memorized and have uttered it time and again. Have you ever given thought to the word want? Below are some examples of the word want as it is used in the Hebrew in other Old Testament Scriptures*:
- Psalm 34:10: The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
- Proverbs 13:25: The righteous eat to their hearts’ content, but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
- Proverbs 31:11: Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
- Ecclesiastes 10:3: Even as fools walk along the road, they lack sense and show everyone how stupid they are.
A Space to be Filled. The use of the word in
want
above indicates an 'emptiness'; a space that is vacant and needs to be
filled. This is not an exchange that takes place but rather the filling of a hole that
is present when someone is in a state of want
or
being in
want. The Lord is the one who fills the empty space within. This is not an emptiness that
can be filled by us; it must be accomplished by Him.
Are You Empty? Allow the Lord to 'fill' the emptiness within and trust Him as your Shepherd. This does not mean all of our troubles disappear, but we have a Shepherd who deeply cares for us in the midst of our sorrow and trouble. In our emptiness, we find fulfillment in the Shepherd.
Lent is an opportunity, as with every other day we are given, to focus on Christ and allow Him to be our portion. You Are Not Alone! (Listen to Natalie Grant)
Lent is an opportunity, as with every other day we are given, to focus on Christ and allow Him to be our portion. You Are Not Alone! (Listen to Natalie Grant)
(*Hebrew text was ascertained and direct comparisons were made as to the references listed above for the purpose of this word study)
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