I shall not want
Isn't this song beautiful? When I first heard the title ("I Shall Not Want"), I figured the song would be a re-telling of Psalm 23, which begins, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The song seems quite different, though, doesn’t it?
A few of the words made me wonder. Many seem logical -- asking God to deliver me from the love of my own comfort, the fear of having nothing, a life of worldly passions. But from “the need to be understood” and from “a need to be accepted”? Why would I want to be delivered from those? We all want to be understood and accepted. Maybe it’s about the need? Deliver me from needing to be understood and accepted so badly that I make compromises. Maybe.
Another line says deliver me from the fear of humility. That one is confusing to me, too. Why would I be afraid of humility? We want to be humble, right? Maybe from the fear of being humiliated? Or a different way to ask to be delivered from pride?
I’m probably overthinking it. Definitely a tendency of mine. But if you have any thoughts, I welcome them!
I love listening to the song. I hope you enjoy it, too. The beauty of the music and Assad’s pure voice, pondering the words. “When I taste your goodness, I shall not want.”
Thank God for his love, that gives us his goodness. Thank God we shall not want.
I Shall Not Want
by Audrey Assad
From the love of my own comfort
From the fear of having nothing
From a life of worldly passions
Deliver me O God
From the need to be understood
And from a need to be accepted
From the fear of being lonely
Deliver me O God
Deliver me O God
And I shall not want, no, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness, I shall not want
From the fear of serving others
Oh, and from the fear of death or trial
And from the fear of humility
Deliver me O God
Yes, deliver me O God
And I shall not want, no, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
No, I shall not want, no, I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
When I taste Your goodness I shall not want
I shall not want
I shall not want
Psalm 23
A Psalm of David
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
What can I pray about for you?
love and blessings,
Mavis
If you would like to send me specific prayer requests, email mavis at moonfamily.cc. I will gladly pray with you. I'll keep all communication confidential.