Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
[1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. [2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. [3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. [4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalms 23:1 NKJV
[1] The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
The Good Shepherd
John 10:11-16 NKJV
[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. [12] But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. [13] The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. [15] As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:1-6 NKJV
[1] And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [2] “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? [3] You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. [4] The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. [5] So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. [6] My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.”
Ezekiel 34:14-16 NKJV
[14] I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. [15] I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. [16] “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”
Shall Not Want
Psalms 34:9-10 NKJV
[9] Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. [10] The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.
Andrew’s LC
The Hebrew word CHACER, which was translated “I shall not want” here, was also translated “abated” in Genesis 8:3 – “And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated.” And it was translated “decreased” in Genesis 8:5 – “And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen.”
Therefore, it is proper to say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not decrease.” Our God is a God of increase, not subtraction (Psalm 34:9-10 and 115:14).
Psalms 115:14 NKJV
[14] May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children.
Psalms 23:2 NKJV
[2] He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Andrew’s LC
To sheep, lying down in green pastures symbolizes total safety in a place with abundant provision.
Psalms 46:10 NKJV
[10] Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV
[28] Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
[28-30] “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Psalms 23:3 NKJV
[3] He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Psalms 147:3 NKJV
[3] He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.
II Corinthians 1:3-5 NKJV
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. [5] For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.
Psalms 23:4 NKJV
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalms 73:28 NKJV
[28] But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, That I may declare all Your works.
Isaiah 26:3 NKJV
[3] You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
Matthew 14:28-31 NKJV
[28] And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” [29] So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. [30] But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” [31] And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Psalms 23:5 NKJV
[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psalms 84:11-12 NKJV
[11] For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly. [12] O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Psalms 5:12 NKJV
[12] For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
Psalms 23:6 NKJV
[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
I Corinthians 15:54-58 NKJV
[54] So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” [55] “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” [56] The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Zechariah 8:20-23 NKJV
[20] “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; [21] The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.” [22] Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the Lord.’ [23] “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”