This is the first devotion under the heading: The Supply: My Giver. The key passage is Psalm 23:1b, “I shall not want.”

To understand the Promises of God, you must know, as David did, that the LORD (the Source, Jehovah, the Creator) is my Shepherd. That is, God is Sovereign by His Decrees; He separated David before time ever was. And by Design; as His Will has been experienced to sanctify him, sanction him, and save him.

David had a clear understanding that God was his Shepherd. The key being the Person of the Shepherd (the LORD; Jehovah); and then the Promises becoming real by the Perception given to him by Faith to know and to experience this to be Truth.

Now David can say by the Performance of God of His Promises to him: “I shall not want.” And he can write the other eight facts of truth in Psalm 23:2-6.

But without Faith, you cannot please God, for you must believe God is (Hebrews 11:6) – and there is no way to believe (understand, and confess, and act upon) unless you have been given The Faith (for The Faith is The Christ). (See Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:8-9.) It is not the Believer who manufactures faith, but The Faith (or Christ) is the Gift to a man in Regeneration by the Holy Spirit.

Until quickening by the Holy Spirit, a man is dead (spiritually dead); he cannot see or hear or understand spiritual truths (1 Corinthians 2:9-14). It is impossible, until the spiritually dead is made spiritually alive (quickened), which is done by Christ Himself, who is Life Himself, and the Giver of Life (both physical and spiritual):

“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;” (Ephesians 2:1)

“Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (22) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: (23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. [“The word of God” being the Living Word, Jesus Christ.] (24) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (25) But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (1 Peter 1:21-25)

The quickened sinner must be drawn, taught, and given repentance (John 6:44, 45; Acts 5:31):

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (45) It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” (John 6:44-45)

And then the quickened sinner is brought to confession that Jesus Christ is Lord and Master; Substitute, Sacrifice, and Savior; and Sustainer.

Then, and then only, can he say: “I shall not want.”

For until Regeneration he is controlled by his “old man” (or his flesh), which is controlled by his sin nature (Ephesians 2:2-3); and he cannot perceive spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:14).

But when regenerated and brought to confession of Jesus Christ being his Savior – then, and then only, will he be able to understand the Supply of His Sovereign God.

The conclusion is very simple: “I shall not want.”

A. The Who: “I”

David, a redeemed Child of God, who knows who God is, and who he is in God.

B. The What: “shall not want.”

That is, based upon who God is, and who I am in God, and upon His Promises – I will never want (or need) in the physical realm or the spiritual realm.

Below is an excerpt from the Devotion Collection, “The Beauty of the Shepherd”:

“I shall not want.”

There is no limitation included in David’s confession. God has, will, and shall continue to meet every need of His Sheep. “Not want”; this is a Promise. And it is backed up by the experience of every Born from Above Child of God:

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

This supply is in the physical area as well as in the spiritual. (See Psalms 37:23-25, 28, 31-40.) The knowledge of this promise, and the experience of His Supply, brings assurance and confidence that we shall never be without His Supply for all of our needs:

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. (24) Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. (25) I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” (Psalms 37:23-25)

“For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever...” (Psalms 37:28)

 “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. (32) The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. (33) The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. (34) Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it… (37) Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace… (39) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. (40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.” (Psalms 37:31-40)

Therefore, there is no “want” – physically or spiritually – under the Shepherd’s care.

This Psalm is for the Believer – not for someone in need, or in some personal crisis, who is not a believer. This Psalm is given for the Believer to remember who God is, and who he is in God; and to rejoice in the Performance of God’s Promises to His Children; and to rest in his Shepherd.