King David's history is well known. Surely his enemies said, "How can the Lord be your sheperd David? We all know about Bathsheba, we know about Tamar and her brother and we know about Absolam. We know that the King had to chase you like a common criminal. David we know that the Lord has said the sword shall never depart from your house. And you say that the Lord is your sheperd"? Please.

But this was a statement of faith for David. The Lord is my sheperd because I know he can lead me. Inspite of my short-comings, my failures, my humanity, and inspite of all else. I know whom I've believed. I know that the Lord is good and his mercy is forever. Therefore by faith he is my sheperd, says David. Dont stand in my way.

And, as David, in the face of calamity and shame, in the face of utter dispair and dizzying pain, we must make the same statement by faith - the lord is my sheperd.

It was also a statement of determination, no not in human strength but in inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the Lord IS my sheperd, because I want it to be so. And in like manner we must choose the Good Sheperd even when we are at our wits end. When we are spent and we think we can follow no more.

We make the statement ( The Lord is my Sheperd) a reality in our lives by faith and power of the Holy Ghost.Do you, as David, feel the heat of the accuser's pointed finger? Claim the Lord as your sheperd.

"I SHALL NOT WANT".

I will not lack, not desire, not lust, not go after, says David but will be content and satisfied by that which the sheperd provides. Oh yes, contentment is a great weapon and tool for the believer in Christ that desires to overcome this world. However contentment in the believer is of great value to Jesus as a testimony of his power and gravity. The believer that is content in Christ speaks volumes of the value and worth of God's provision and saving grace.

To save us from a life of ever wanting more than God has given, more than what we have in Jesus himself.

This again is a statement made by David that bears at least dual meaning. First in that it is a statement of faith. In stating that he shall not want David means this; I know that God will provide. Secondly that, he is determined within himself to not want, not desire more, not want more and be distracted by his desires for anything but that which is in Jesus himself. The Good Sheperd ( says David ) has provided, it is an insult to God for me to want. And, as David, it is for us to insult Jesus and our Father to want after he has provided for us.

Israel after the Red Sea is a good example to look to here. Israel ever wanted in the wilderness because she could understand and be satisfied with God alone. Nor could she trust that God would provide as promised.

But how to stop wanting more and to stop wanting what God does not intend for us to have at this particular time? We can't do it, but as Paul so famously said "I can do all things through Christ". We must ask God to build that into our character. Build contentment into us. If we ask him to do just that he will. We must not depend on our willpower and determination.