In the book, "I shall not want," the author Robert Ketchum tells about an episode in which a Sunday School teacher asks her class of children if anyone could recite the entire twenty-third Psalm. After a moment of silence, a little four and a half year old girl raised her hand. Somewhat skeptical, the teacher asked her if she really could quote the entire Psalm. The little girl said she could. She came up in front of the class, made a little bow, and said, "The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want." She then bowed again and sat down. The little girl may have left out a few verses but it appears that she did capture the heart of David in Psalm 23.
It was 3,000 years ago that David was known as the Shepherd King of Israel. David was anointed the next king of Israel by Samuel when he was a young boy. After having been anointed with oil the Spirit of the Lord came mightily on David. The Bible tells us that the critical reason that King Saul allowed David to face the giant, Goliath, was because of the Lord being with David when he killed a bear and a lion protecting his father's sheep. David convinced Saul that God would be with him again.
One of the most famous of all battles took place in the Valley of Elah. The Philistines were are one mountain and the Israelites were on the other and down below and between them was the Valley of Elah. David would fight Goliath in the valley of the shadow of death. The Bible tells us that David did not run through the valley, nor did he run from the valley. He walked through the valley. He walked through the valley because he knew that although he had to walk this valley by himself, with no other human beings to help him, that he was not alone. The Lord was his shepherd and walked with him.
Against all odds, David slew the giant, Goliath. How could a young David slay a giant without a sword and just a sling? David would tell you it was the same way he slew a bear and a lion. He would tell you these words, "The Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord's." (I Samuel 17:47).
When the time comes and you find yourself in the Valley of Elah facing your personal giant, no matter how afraid you are, no matter how alone you feel, your Shepherd walks with you. The Lord tells us that you do not fight the battle. The Lord will fight the battle. The battle is first fought on your knees in prayer. The Lord will take it from there. The little four and a half year old girl was right, The Lord is my shepherd, that's all I want."
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