The Beauty of "Shall Not"
A significant portion of those in the world have, at best, a surface exposure to the church. To them, Christians are frequently viewed and described as those who “don’t.” They don’t do this, or they don’t do that. They don’t go there, and they don’t say such things.
This assessment of the Christian faith may be sustained by the many “Thou shalt nots” of the Ten Commandments, as that represents the totality of the world’s exposure to the believer’s environment. Even those with greater exposure to the biblical narrative may be prone to see the God of the Old Testament as harsh and vengeful.
It is true that there are many prohibitions in the Law fitting the “shall not” model, but it is misguided and inappropriate to make a full appraisal of the body of Christ from such a limited perspective. This week, we are going to look at a different set of “shall nots” and see how that negative, prohibitive phrase presents a very positive message for the believer.
Shall Nots We Love
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; But they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
– Psalm 34:10, NASB-1977
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
– Psalm 23:1, NASB-1977
Jesus provides us with what satisfies our deepest longings. Though our soul was parched and thirsting, we will never thirst again.
But everyone who shall drink of the waters that I will give him shall not thirst for eternity, but those waters that I give him shall be springs of waters in him that shall spring up into eternal life.
– John 4:14, ABPE
Those who walk in God’s way lack no good thing. We walk in abundance of grace, and God’s grace is sufficient.1 God withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly,2 thus we are content an any and every circumstance.3
Since it is true that God’s grace is all we need, these “shall not” words from Jesus take on greater significance.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
– John 3:16, NASB-1995
Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
– John 5:24, NKJV
Jesus introduced that statement with his oft-used ἀμήν ἀμήν, sometimes translated, “Verily, verily,” or “Truly, truly,” where the double emphasis conveys the idea, “What I’m about to say to you is of tremendous import. Pay attention!” We shall not come under judgment.
Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
– John 8:12, NASB-1977
We will never stumble in spiritual darkness. God is light, and in him is no darkness.4 Jesus is the light to the Gentiles.5 We have all we need to walk uprightly. Following the light, we see the road ahead and we know where it leads. Will there be trials and challenges? Yes, but we will stand firm in the light and on the truth.
I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
– Psalm 16:8, ESV
The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
for the Lord upholds his hand.
– Psalm 37:23-24, ESV
In response to such statements, Bishop John Perowne said, “God, in David’s eyes, is no abstraction, but a Person, real, living, walking at his side.”6 Though we face great trials, the Lord will not leave us, but will, rather, uphold us through that very trial.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
– Isaiah 43:2, ESV
And why is that verse true? The very next phrase says, “For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 41:10 assures us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God.”
The very gates of Hell can oppose us but never prevail against us.
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
– Matthew 16:18, ESV
When Jesus says it, we can believe it. We can bank our very souls on it because though heaven and earth pass away, his words shall not pass away.7 Even sin itself shall not have dominion over us because we are not under law, but under grace.8
All of that is now, today! And our future looks even brighter.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
– Revelation 7:16, ESV
1. 2 Corinthians 12:9
2. Psalm 84:11
3. Philippians 4:11
4. 1 John 1:5
5. Luke 2:32
6. John Peter Lange et al. (2008). A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Psalms (p. 125), Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
7. Matthew 24:35
