I SHALL NEVER BE DIMINISHED
At least half of the psalms in the Book of Psalms are attributed to David. He was known as “the sweet singer of Israel”. He said many things that represent eternal truth, not religious platitudes. We could meditate forever on the rich truths he embraced. However, we cannot exhaust everything he espoused but we can weave some into the fabric of our own lives.
Although David lived under the Old Covenant, he said many things that rise above law and ritual, things that have eternal significance and give us a better perspective on the nature of the Father and life in the New Covenant.
Let’s examine some of the things David said, wrote, or sang as the core of his philosophy of life, beginning with the most beloved of all his psalms…
Psalms 23:1 NIV
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”
Psalms 23:1 NLT
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”
Psalms 23:1 CEV
[1] “You, Lord, are my shepherd. I will never be in need.”
Psalms 23:1 NKJV
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Four translations…four interpretations, but all implying the same basic thought. Since the Lord is like a shepherd, I am assured of a steady supply of every physical and material thing I need.
Was that what David’s heart was saying as he chewed on a piece of grass out in the meadow, musing and watching his father’s sheep? Was he contemplating God’s goodness to him as a young lad in an Israelite family despite the way things appeared to be? Was he contrasting God’s ways with the ways of humans…who elevate themselves above others?
Did his mind range around his own role as a young sheep herder, carrying the huge responsibility of the wellbeing of his daddy’s flock? What was it that weighed on him out there on the hills? Did he consider his own inadequacy and vulnerability against the odds of weather and wild beasts? Did he turn his thoughts, with gratitude, to the faithfulness of his God who gave him strength to stand his ground even against lions and bears?
Let’s look at the words he used.
Shepherd… Hebrew “ra’ah”, meaning “one who tends”, i.e., tends a flock. As always, the meaning is in the context.
What does a “ra’ah” do? In a nutshell, he provides everything a sheep needs and he allows nothing to harm his flock. This takes wisdom, strength, and stamina, a tall order for one so young. Was he conscious of the way in which God supernaturally helped him in times of crisis? Was this God a true shepherd?
Our translators cover the first but neglect the second aspect of a shepherd’s care in the words they used. What if David was conscious that his Shepherd took great care that no psychological or emotional damage happened to him as well as physical harm or need? After all, he was the youngest of eight brothers and was often treated with contempt by his own family, as his story unfolds.
Two incidents illustrate this point.
First incident…
God gave Samuel, the prophet, instructions to anoint one of Jesse’s sons to be king in Israel in place of the disgraced Saul. Jesse presented seven sons to Samuel but, each time, God said “No”. What now?
“Do you have another son?” Samuel asked. “Oh him,” Jesse replied. “He’s looking after sheep.” Can you hear the contempt? David’s own father didn’t consider his youngest son good enough or important enough to meet the prophet and join the sacrificial ceremony.
1 Samuel 16:10-11 NLT
[10] “In the same way, all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” [11] Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”
Second incident…
Israel was at war with the Philistines. Three of Jesse’s oldest sons were in the army. The Philistines’ champion, Goliath, had challenged the Israelite soldiers to a duel. Not one Israelite soldier dared take up the challenge.
1 Samuel 17:14-15 NLT
[14] “David was the youngest son. David’s three oldest brothers stayed with Saul’s army, [15] but David went back and forth so he could help his father with the sheep in Bethlehem…”
Jesse sent David to the battlefront with provisions for his brothers and to check on their wellbeing. When he arrived, his eldest brother turned on him. His accusations were cruel and belittling.
1 Samuel 17:28 NLT
[28] “But when David’s oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking to the men, he was angry. “What are you doing around here anyway?” he demanded. “What about those few sheep you’re supposed to be taking care of? I know about your pride and deceit. You just want to see the battle!”
How does a teenage boy feel under the weight of such insult and contempt, especially from a member of his own family? Were these attitudes not even more damaging than any physical challenges he faced out there in the hills with the sheep?
David turned to the God he was getting to know. He was learning that the God of his fathers, the God of covenant, was not only a reliable source of supply, but also a God who never put him down, or let him down no matter what his circumstances. Young as he was, his confidence in the character of God gave him the courage to trust Him when he needed Him. With this kind of confidence in God who never failed, this stripling teenage boy faced, challenged, and killed the Goliath his brothers feared.
Psalms 3:3 NIV
[3] “But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”
The Hebrew word, “rum”, means “to be high, or exalted.” David was aware of the way God lifted him up and supported him when others put him down, insulted him, and treated him with contempt. “I shall not be in want…” also helped him to treat others the way God treated him.
David’s habit was to “enquire of the Lord” for guidance in every tough situation, and to follow His instructions because he knew that God would always support or vindicate him.
Such was David’s confidence in God that he could tell the world, through his songs, that no matter what, he would never be diminished. What a way to live!
In turn, David took care not to diminish others. He had the power to eradicate the members of Saul’s family in case they threatened him as king. However, instead, he stepped in to lift up Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan, in his distress, to the position of a member of his household. As a recipient of God’s mercy, David extended mercy to others.
People think nothing of diminishing others. It happens in families, in workplaces, and in society. In fact, people love to diminish others, even in the most drastic of all ways, by taking another’s life, with hardly a thought.
What if we take a leaf from David’s book? What if we rely on God never to diminish us when the chips are down? What if we resolve never to put anyone else down even if it costs us?
What a way to conduct our lives! As the object of God’s immeasurable mercy…
Psalms 103:9-11 NIV
[9] “He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; [10] he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. [11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him…”
…We owe God the same attitude of mercy to others as He has shown us. He steps in to support us in times of trial. Now let’s do the same for others.
Micah 6:8 NIV
[8] “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”