Overflow

Psalm 23

“Abundance” is not a word in normal use these days, at least not that I hear (or use). If we think of the concept of abundance, or “plenty”, it often has to do with ‘negatives’ – an abundance of bills, plenty of worries, lots of ice on the roads, etc.

This psalm celebrates the God of abundance. With him, there is nothing I shall want. I lack nothing. Both the shepherd language of verses 1-4 and the royal court language after that exude abundance. The Lord is our provider, guardian, and supplier of all needs, to overflowing. It all fits with the life of David, to whom the psalm is ascribed. What David would have found, through deprivation while on the run from Saul, through confronting giants, and through his own rebellion and sin, was that what the Lord provides above all, in abundance, is grace (see the opening of Psalm 51 and its superscription – the sort of sub-heading before verse 1).

Prayer:
Lord, let me dwell a lot more on what you supply in abundance, and a lot less on what I think I lack. Through Christ. Amen.