Lessons From the Secret Place – Intimacy- Lesson 2: No Lack in Christ

Today we will continue our study on intimacy with God.  As we learn more about Christ, our Good Shepherd, and how he cares for us we will develop a deeper desire to know him more.  Intimacy is birthed out of that desire to know and be known. In Psalm 23 David describes our Good Shepherd. Over the next few lessons, we will look at how our Good Shepherd cares for us.  We will also look at three things we must do to stay in intimacy with our Good Shepherd. 

To begin, Psalm 23:1 lays the foundation for the rest of the Psalm by stating right up front that with the Lord as our shepherd we shall not want. 

The ESV Global Study Bible footnotes on Psalm 23:1 states, want means to lack what one needs. 

Here David, who spent the beginning years of his life in the pastures with his father’s flock and in later years spent time hiding out in caves for fear of being found and killed by King Saul, states from his own first-hand knowledge that with the Lord as our shepherd we will lack nothing!!!! 

We know that David’s life was not easy.  As a shepherd he was often called upon to rescue a lamb from the mouth of a lion or a bear.  Additionally, as a fugitive from King Saul, he was often led to beg for assistance from the kings of other nations or from others along the way.  Nevertheless, David was so confident in God that while he was running and hiding from King Saul, he wrote these words, “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfill his purpose for me. He will send help from heaven to rescue me, disgracing those who hound me. My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.” (Psalm 57:1-3 NLT)

2 Peter 1:3, For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). (AMPC)

Here Peter is telling us that by God’s power, through our knowledge of Christ, we have been given everything we need for living a godly life.  

His divine power speaks of the working of Holy Spirit.  It was Holy Spirit who was hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2) and who was the creative force that brought all that God spoke (see Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 14, 20, and 24) into being. 

Charles Spurgeon stated, “Divine power! What stupendous issues are grasped in that term, divine power! It was this which digged the deep foundations of the earth and sea! Divine power, it is this which guides the marches of the stars of heaven! Divine power! it is this which holds up the pillars of the universe, and which one day shall shake them, and hurry all things back to their native nothingness.” 

Bestowed upon us according to Webster’s 1828 dictionary means given gratuitously; conferred; laid out; applied; or deposited for safe-keeping. 

All things literally means, all things. Nothing left out!!

That [are requisite and suited] to means required by the nature of things or by circumstances; necessary; so needful that it cannot be dispensed with. For example, repentance and faith are requisite to salvation. i

To life and godliness address our present state of existence; the time from birth to death and how we carefully observe the laws of God. How we daily live out of our relationship with Christ.   

Through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him doesn’t mean a casual acquaintance, the Greek word knowledge here means an exact, complete and thorough knowledge. ii  

In Philippians 3:10, Paul states, [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]. (AMPC) (Emphasis mine)

Paul tells us here that we must purpose with determination to progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Jesus!  Intimacy is a choice. According to 2 Peter 1:3, it is this choice to know Jesus that leads to all needs being met, because when we know Jesus, and we know what his Word says is ours in Him, we know how to pray in faith believing for answers. 

James 1:5-8, If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without wavering. For he who wavers is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind. Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (MEV)

This passage addresses asking in faith.  It is talking about asking for wisdom; however, the same principle applies to any request.  We must not doubt or waver in unbelief because double mindedness leads to instability and instability demonstrates a lack of knowledge of who God is and what His Word says.  When we don’t know God intimately, we cannot believe that His Word is true.  

For example, if I meet someone for the first time and they say they need some money, I don’t hand them my ATM card and give them my pin. Why? Duh, I don’t know if I can trust them. However, I have several close friends who, if they needed some money I would trust with my card because I know their character and their love for me.  I trust that they would never do anything to intentionally harm me.  

In Psalm 23:1, David was speaking for a place of firsthand, intimate knowledge of God.  He had seen God come through time and time again.  Even in the darkest moments of his life, David knew that his God would take care of him.  He would never go without what he needed.  

We too can know God in such a close way that we will never again fear lack.  How do we come to a full, personal knowledge of our Good Shepherd? Intimacy.  We come to knowledge of him through prayer, reading and meditating on the Word, and through private and corporate worship.  

As I stated before intimacy must be an intentional part of our life.  We must daily choose to grow in our relationship and knowledge of our Good Shepherd.

Works Cited: 

i https://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Requisite

ii https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/2-peter/2-peter-1.cfm?a=1157003