Article May 9, 1931 Issue

"I shall not want"

KATHERINE ENGLISH

How many sore hearts have been comforted and strengthened by the words of the twenty-third Psalm, which has come down to us through so many centuries! Yet a deeper sense of its beauty and power is gained when we study the simple interpretation which Mrs. Eddy gives it on page 578 of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures." This interpretation shows the tender light with which Christian Science illumines even the best-loved portions of the Scriptures, as the spiritual concept of God supersedes finite material belief.

"[Divine Love] is my shepherd; I shall not want." All the world is crying out for Love. But it looks for it in every direction except the right one; it accepts the poorest substitutes in its ignorance of the true nature of Love. Mrs. Eddy's own character manifested unselfishness and loving-kindness. Her tender heart had been so purified by constant prayer, so enlightened by consecration to divine service, that she was fitted to give to the world the wonderful revelation of Truth and Love which she reverently called "Christian Science." The spiritual interpretation of this Psalm, so much beloved by all Christian people, shows clearly that the teachings of Christian Science take away nothing spiritual or true which the student possessed before, but give, rather, a still deeper, broader, and more intelligent understanding of spirituality and Truth.

"I shall not want"! Materiality is always in want. Its hourly cry is, I want! No sooner does it get what it wants than it wants something else or something more. It is never satisfied, never content. Whether living in extravagance or squalor, it is pursued by a wretched, stifled sense of lack, of unfulfilled desire, unstilled longing. It tries one form of amusement or pleasure after another, only to find in each the same monotonous dissatisfaction. Not until thought begins to turn away from materiality to purify its desires, to recognize something of man's true spiritual selfhood and the folly of self-will, does a sense of tranquillity replace anxiety, depression, and fear for the future. Most people can bear the ills they have at the moment; it is the thought of their continuance that seems unendurable. To have expectancy changed from the perpetual apprehension of impending want to confidence in divine Love's ample provision has healed many a hopeless case of disease.

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