Lent 4
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
-- Psalm 23:1
In a world that suffers from all sorts of needs from hunger to disease, from violence to agonizing loneliness, it seems unreal to say that I would not want for anything when the Lord is my shepherd. Much of the antagonism of our world is generated by the fear that someone will deprive us of something we need. However, if you absolutely knew that you would never want for material goods, would you spend so much energy on gathering more? If you knew for certain that the people you cared about would always love you, would you be as subject to jealousy? If it were clear that you would always have time enough to do what you want, would you feel the pressure of the clock? Try to imagine the full impact of the declaration of faith that, as long as God cares for you like a shepherd cares for his sheep, you will never want for anything. We cannot deny that there are people who are deprived in this world even though they pray fervently to God. Yet some people who seem to have great needs in this world and have faith seem to be more content than many who have all the advantages but are cut off from God. The psalmist saw his needs fulfilled by one who provided nourishment for body and soul (v. 2) and right relationships (v. 3). He did not deny that there were threats to his life (v. 4) and enemies that threatened (v. 5), but he had learned to trust that in the midst of a turbulent world, there was a faithful provider who had met his needs and such experiences gave him hope and confidence for the future (v. 6). Perhaps to be freed from want is not an absence of need but to be sustained in whatever condition we find ourselves.
-- Psalm 23:1
In a world that suffers from all sorts of needs from hunger to disease, from violence to agonizing loneliness, it seems unreal to say that I would not want for anything when the Lord is my shepherd. Much of the antagonism of our world is generated by the fear that someone will deprive us of something we need. However, if you absolutely knew that you would never want for material goods, would you spend so much energy on gathering more? If you knew for certain that the people you cared about would always love you, would you be as subject to jealousy? If it were clear that you would always have time enough to do what you want, would you feel the pressure of the clock? Try to imagine the full impact of the declaration of faith that, as long as God cares for you like a shepherd cares for his sheep, you will never want for anything. We cannot deny that there are people who are deprived in this world even though they pray fervently to God. Yet some people who seem to have great needs in this world and have faith seem to be more content than many who have all the advantages but are cut off from God. The psalmist saw his needs fulfilled by one who provided nourishment for body and soul (v. 2) and right relationships (v. 3). He did not deny that there were threats to his life (v. 4) and enemies that threatened (v. 5), but he had learned to trust that in the midst of a turbulent world, there was a faithful provider who had met his needs and such experiences gave him hope and confidence for the future (v. 6). Perhaps to be freed from want is not an absence of need but to be sustained in whatever condition we find ourselves.
