Done Deal. Impossible to Change. Incomprehensible.

David declares that his Shepherd meets all of his needs, all the time, everywhere, and under all circumstances. So no matter what happens, you can relax.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1.

I can’t help it. I have to return to this and say something I am learning. The Hebrew language doesn’t have a future tense in the sense that we do. I am kind of embarrassed to be as old as I am and just now learning much of this. I am sure I heard and learned it but forgot it along the way. Right now, as I meditate on Psalm 23, God the Holy Spirit, is teaching me so much.

In Biblical Hebrew, verbs refer more to action than time. They have perfect and imperfect forms of verbs. The perfect speaks of completed actions no matter when they occur. Depending on the context, it might refer to past, present, or even future events.

The other form, imperfect, speaks of what is ongoing, incomplete, or habitual and could possibly represent any time period, depending on the context.

So, in Biblical Hebrew (the Old Testament’s language), the verb system is more concerned with completed or ongoing action, not so strictly with time.

So something beautiful is happening with the Hebrew word for “want or lack” in Psalm 23:1. It is in the perfect aspect, complete, finished, settled, and done.

This verse doesn’t in any way imply that in some future state, I will have all I need. There is no idea that I might lack today, but God will be here tomorrow and meet my needs. Not that I had enough or will have enough, but that I always have enough and will always have enough because, well, do you know about my Shepherd?

Remember, the verb “shall not want” is not in the future tense in Hebrew. It is in the “perfect aspect,” which emphasizes not the future but completed action and certainty. It is a done deal that I never lack or want.

David states he doesn’t want and will not want, and he can say that with absolute confidence. It is done, taken care of, that he will not want; his Shepherd is taking care of him.

The perfect aspect or how the Hebrew word is used is that David is making a declaration: “See my Shepherd. It is impossible for me not to have all I need. I have a Good Shepherd.”

David is speaking from experience, but more than that, knowing God, His Shepherd, the great I AM who never changes. David sees God’s provision as an unbreakable reality. It is unthinkable to believe that God, His Shepherd, will not be dependable or will not provide.

David is meditating on his Shepherd, and all the great I AM does. When you consider the Shepherd, not the shadows or situation you see, our Father has always met our needs.

Will you turn your thoughts from yourself and how you are feeling to the reality of who our Shepherd is, what He promises, and His character, and relax in His love?

Are you hurting right now, worried about your needs? Turn your eyes to your Savior, your Shepherd, and trust Him. He will not fail you no matter how dire the situation.

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Unshakeable Shepherd

In the fabric of time, a truth stands still,
A done deal, etched in stone by divine will.
Impossible to change, a promise secure,
The Shepherd's provision, eternally sure.

Incomprehensible, this love so vast,
Present, future, and echoes of the past.
No tense can contain His boundless care,
In every moment, He is always there.

David's declaration, a timeless song,
"I shall not want," where I belong.
Not a glimpse of future hope alone,
But a constant state, in present shown.

Perfect aspect, a completed act,
The Shepherd's promise, an eternal pact.
No lack, no want, in any hour,
Sustained by His unfailing power.

Turn your gaze from fleeting fears,
To the One who dries all tears.
In shadow or in brightest day,
His love remains, come what may.

Rest in this truth, let worry cease,
The great I AM, your Prince of Peace.
Your needs are met, in Him complete,
At the Good Shepherd's faithful feet.

So meditate on His endless grace,
Find solace in His warm embrace.
For in His presence, fully known,
You'll find a love that's fully grown.

Relax, dear heart, and be at ease,
Your Shepherd guides through stormy seas.
Trust in His word, so tried and true,
For He who promises, makes all things new.