The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Even the young lions — the strong, the capable, the powerful — go hungry and suffer lack, but those who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. The contrast is deliberate: natural strength and ability cannot secure supply, while seeking and trusting the Lord secures unfailing provision. Fearing the Lord and living rightly belong together with the promise, for God provides what is good for those who seek Him.
Seeking the Lord means fearing and reverencing Him, trusting in Him, and honoring Him by putting self aside. It means humble, subdued, contrite obedience that listens to and heeds His Word rather than relying on self-confidence and self-sufficiency. Blessings are received through such obedience, not through self-reliance.
The psalm should be read verse by verse together with Psalm 62, since every verse holds important lessons. Those who seek the Lord with subdued, contrite, humble hearts that fear Him are tenderly regarded by Him. He dwells with them to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite, shows them mercy from generation to generation, exalts those of low degree, and fills the hungry with good things, while He scatters the proud, puts down the mighty, and sends the rich empty away.
Lacking no good thing means God provides what is truly good and needed. That includes practical provision, enough to live comfortably without scrimping for money and without lacking anything good that is needed. He grants faithful people the good things, grace, and peace they need in their struggle against evil. He is ready to hear the contrite who listen to His Word and seek His help.
Those who seek and trust in the Lord lack nothing truly good even when loved ones lie in the grave and friends are estranged and give no encouragement, solace, or healing for sin and bereavement. In that loneliness and loss Christ Himself, as the resurrection and the life who was dead and is alive forevermore, gives all that is needed. The assurance applies in a special way to people doing God's work, who are to rely on Him and act under His direction.
The verse holds an important lesson needed by people who have forsaken God. It is needed especially by men who have not been walking in the light and whose principles and course of action prevent God from prospering His people.
Even the young lions — the strong, the capable, the powerful — go hungry and suffer lack, but those who seek the Lord shall not want any good thing. The contrast is deliberate: natural strength and ability cannot secure supply, while seeking and trusting the Lord secures unfailing provision. Fearing the Lord and living rightly belong together with the promise, for God provides what is good for those who seek Him.
Seeking the Lord means fearing and reverencing Him, trusting in Him, and honoring Him by putting self aside. It means humble, subdued, contrite obedience that listens to and heeds His Word rather than relying on self-confidence and self-sufficiency. Blessings are received through such obedience, not through self-reliance.
The psalm should be read verse by verse together with Psalm 62, since every verse holds important lessons. Those who seek the Lord with subdued, contrite, humble hearts that fear Him are tenderly regarded by Him. He dwells with them to revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite, shows them mercy from generation to generation, exalts those of low degree, and fills the hungry with good things, while He scatters the proud, puts down the mighty, and sends the rich empty away.
Lacking no good thing means God provides what is truly good and needed. That includes practical provision, enough to live comfortably without scrimping for money and without lacking anything good that is needed. He grants faithful people the good things, grace, and peace they need in their struggle against evil. He is ready to hear the contrite who listen to His Word and seek His help.
Those who seek and trust in the Lord lack nothing truly good even when loved ones lie in the grave and friends are estranged and give no encouragement, solace, or healing for sin and bereavement. In that loneliness and loss Christ Himself, as the resurrection and the life who was dead and is alive forevermore, gives all that is needed. The assurance applies in a special way to people doing God's work, who are to rely on Him and act under His direction.
The verse holds an important lesson needed by people who have forsaken God. It is needed especially by men who have not been walking in the light and whose principles and course of action prevent God from prospering His people.