Justice and Want

Opening Prayer: Dear Lord, open my eyes and ears that I may see and hear want. Open my heart that I respond with justice. Amen.

 

Scripture(s):  Psalm 23: 1 (NRSV) “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” and

Ezekiel 34:11-24 (NRSV) “For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

 

Message: There are many bible verses that give a Christian pause. This verse from what is probably the most well-known Psalm in the book of Psalms is one of those. The Hebrew sense of “I shall not want” is more appropriately I shall not be in lack or I shall not be in a state of decrease. It makes sense why all of these translations would give anyone cause for pause.

It is clear there is want, that there is lack, and that there are many who are in a state of decrease. 

            A typical answer offered is that this verse refers to spiritual lack. While this is some of what this verse means, I think this verse refers to all of our needs, not just spiritual needs. I conclude this because verses regarding Jesus and God as the shepherd can be found not just in the New Testament but also in the Hebrew bible. The Ezekiel verses offer some clarification.

The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel prophesied not only the destruction of Jerusalem but the restoration as well. YHWH’s role in human history is not to be a distant all-powerful God, but to be a present, intimate shepherd. This shepherd seeks, rescues, gathers, and feeds his flock. Emphasis on making sheep into a flock. The last verses of this passage are essential. “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.” God calls us to rest so that we can be refreshed. God heals our wounds and strengthens us. Finally, God feeds us with justice.

             When I consider God the source of my rest and of my health, it is a little easier to feel as if I have all I need. When this also includes justice from God as my food, I can imagine not being in a state of decrease. This is all fine and good until we look at reality, the reality of need, want, lack, and injustice. How do we then make sense of the two? This is the way I am choosing to make sense. I am not in lack, want, or decrease when I am being fed by God. This world though is not accepting the feeding of God. It is because of this that the world, suffers due to lack, want, and decrease. It is our calling as sheep and members of God’s flock to offer as God’s representatives rest (respite), healing, community (bring back the strayed), and strength. Most of these needs can begin to be fulfilled when there is justice. Inequities in food, access to health care, and not having clean drinking water make it impossible to enter into rest. Rest beside still waters is only possible when justice is present.

            Justice reigns in the kingdom of God. It is our calling as Christians to bring the kingdom of God to the earth. Our calling and God’s power fuels our work. When justice rolls down like waters (Amos 5:24), then there will be rest because there is not lack, no want, no decrease. We can and should be part of seeing that this reality exists.

 

Closing Prayer: Lord, forgive me when my actions and words or the lack thereof make me part of the problem. Help me to be part of the solution. Amen.