Lacking nothing
It has been way.....too long since I have posted some data on this blog. Well, since my Pastor asked me to teach the mid-week service at church tonight, as he is out of state, I will write a portion of what I will be teaching.
The main body of the teaching is to be the 23rd Psalm, with understandings pulled from the New Testament to see the consistent love our Father provides for us.
"YHWH is my Shepherd (or one who tends or takes care of me). Everything that follows is contained in that concept. The meaning of the Name, YHWH, is expanded into eight separate conceptual understandings as the Psalm progresses. Each of these are usually understood by the "Jehovah"(-"Roi" -- The LORD is my Shepherd") names throughout the Old Testament. Each of the eight revealed here unfold for us YHWH's very nature. He acts out of His nature. (That is the true meaning of Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." NASB He is always consistent -- always doing and moving out of who He is, never contrary to Himself).
"I shall not want." Some recent translations use "I lack nothing" which supplies the true meaning of the passage. With YHWH as my shepherd, I cannot possible lack anything. This is very foreign to our modern understanding. We might teach that we say this by faith, and that is true, we do, however, it is intended to be a way of thinking and a way of "being" for us.
The same thought is used by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:10-14. He is rejoicing that the Philippians have been able to send provisions for him in his ministry, then he makes this statement, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." We spend all kinds of effort trying to learn contentment, and in that process, we have missed the point of the passage. The point he was making was He did not lack anything! He knew how to be without any need, because as he states in 4:13 "I can do all ... through Christ who strengthens me." He understood that with Jesus (YHWH-Saves) He did not have any lack. Contentment is the by-product of not having any needs or want because of Christ.
It is an understanding of believing the Lord -- in the face of circumstances. Everything boils down to who do I trust and who do I believe. With YHWH as my shepherd, that is all. Nothing else needs to be dealt with -- He will do out His abundant nature. This does not mean, we don't communicate with Him about perceived needs, it just means we do that then trust Him and live in the reality of His nature and therefore His provision, not in the reality of our senses. This is a life of faith.
What a marvelous journey this "faith-walk" continues to be to me. I realize there are many journeys of faith to enter into the above with life, not just words, but each time I have made that journey I have found Him more than enough!
Blessed be His wonderful Name!
The main body of the teaching is to be the 23rd Psalm, with understandings pulled from the New Testament to see the consistent love our Father provides for us.
"YHWH is my Shepherd (or one who tends or takes care of me). Everything that follows is contained in that concept. The meaning of the Name, YHWH, is expanded into eight separate conceptual understandings as the Psalm progresses. Each of these are usually understood by the "Jehovah"(-"Roi" -- The LORD is my Shepherd") names throughout the Old Testament. Each of the eight revealed here unfold for us YHWH's very nature. He acts out of His nature. (That is the true meaning of Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." NASB He is always consistent -- always doing and moving out of who He is, never contrary to Himself).
"I shall not want." Some recent translations use "I lack nothing" which supplies the true meaning of the passage. With YHWH as my shepherd, I cannot possible lack anything. This is very foreign to our modern understanding. We might teach that we say this by faith, and that is true, we do, however, it is intended to be a way of thinking and a way of "being" for us.
The same thought is used by the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:10-14. He is rejoicing that the Philippians have been able to send provisions for him in his ministry, then he makes this statement, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am." We spend all kinds of effort trying to learn contentment, and in that process, we have missed the point of the passage. The point he was making was He did not lack anything! He knew how to be without any need, because as he states in 4:13 "I can do all ... through Christ who strengthens me." He understood that with Jesus (YHWH-Saves) He did not have any lack. Contentment is the by-product of not having any needs or want because of Christ.
It is an understanding of believing the Lord -- in the face of circumstances. Everything boils down to who do I trust and who do I believe. With YHWH as my shepherd, that is all. Nothing else needs to be dealt with -- He will do out His abundant nature. This does not mean, we don't communicate with Him about perceived needs, it just means we do that then trust Him and live in the reality of His nature and therefore His provision, not in the reality of our senses. This is a life of faith.
What a marvelous journey this "faith-walk" continues to be to me. I realize there are many journeys of faith to enter into the above with life, not just words, but each time I have made that journey I have found Him more than enough!
Blessed be His wonderful Name!
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