The Importance of “The Lord is My Shepherd”

A shepherd describes a more close and devoted relationship. Whereas a king might do what’s best for the majority, a shepherd knows and stewards each one of his sheep.

In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus says:

What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? – Luke 15:4 (ESV).

A shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one.

This is how God cares for us. He knows each of our comings and goings, he knows every hair on our heads, he knows when even one of us is lost and has made every provision to find us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Why Do We Need A Shepherd?

Now if the Lord is our Shepherd, that makes us the sheep. Prone to wander. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not.

But here’s what we need to understand: we can’t see God as Shepherd if we don’t see ourselves as sheep. When we open our eyes to how much we really need and rely on God for everything, the more we realize His provision in our lives. But if we live in the lie that we can do this on our own, we wander and drift away from our true source, looking for satisfaction in artificial places.

So when David says “I shall not want” he is acknowledging how completely reliant he is one God as his Shepherd.

“I shall not want” because God, as a good shepherd, will ensure I have everything I need. “I shall not want,” not because of what I’ve done or can do but because God loves me. “I shall not want” because I know God personally as my Shepherd.