May 13

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."—Psalms 23:1.

THE psalm before us is full of comfort to believers. Three things are especially mentioned: the provision God has made for them in life, verses 1—3, 5; their protection in death, verse 4; and their prospects for eternity, verse 6.

THE CHARACTERS REPRESENTED. Believers are compared to sheep. Note

Their former condition. Once they wandered from God like lost sheep, but he has brought them back to the fold. By sin, the holiness, happiness, and dignity of man are lost.

Their present state. They are redeemed by the blood of Christ, sanctified by his Spirit; and are expected to resemble sheep, to be meek and gentle, patient and resigned.

Their small number. They are represented as a little flock, and they are few, compared with the world that lieth in wickedness; but there are other sheep which must be brought into the fold of Christ.

THE CLAIM ASSERTED. "The Lord is my shepherd." The believer is allowed to make this claim, and encourages himself in Christ as his shepherd. Contemplate the goodness which under this character he displays, the knowledge he possesses, the tenderness he exercises, and the offices he performs.

THE CONFIDENCE EXPRESSED. "I shall not want." This may refer to

Temporal supplies. "Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure." God has not promised us luxurious delicacies, but the necessaries of life, and his special blessing with our common mercies.

Spiritual provisions. We cannot want while such a Divine source is opened for our supply. In Christ we have "all spiritual blessings;" and these are secured by the efficacy of his blood, the influence of his Spirit, and the prevalence of his intercession. Let my prayer be, "Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth! where thou feedest; where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon."