EL Rohi : The Lord Is My Shepherd
- Ranjith Charly
- Nov 19, 2024
- 10 min read
Updated: Nov 20, 2024
Background
Christian Living
Let's look at another name of God – Jehovah Rohi : The Lord is My Shepherd.
When you think about the word shepherd what thoughts come to your mind?
Let’s read Psalms 23.
Context : This psalm begins with the words “Mizmor leDavid” (“A song of David”), is arguably the most famous of all the Psalms. This morning, I humbly urge you brothers and sisters to let go of familiarity and let the Lord God speak to you as we dig into hidden treasures of God’s word today. David, who changed career from being a shepherd to a king, with many years as a wandering fugitive in between. David’s life was in constant danger as the previous king, Saul, burned with envy against him and wanted him dead. David was a wanted man on the run, ducking and diving through the Judean hills and deserts, in search of escape, and safety. This is true for every situation in our life whether it good , or seems like deep darkness and difficult.
Just ponder are all the sheep same? Different sizes, colours, some clean, some dirty, some rubbing their heads against the trees to remove an itch, some resting, some hurt and speckled, some maybe lost and bleating calling for the shepherd amidst danger. Is this true of you and me and the global body of Jesus Christ?
What happens when we receive our Lord Jesus Christ as our shepherd?
The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want. | The word Ro’iy in the original Hebrew can be translated as shepherd, or as seeing, looking, or gazing. Comes from the word ‘raah’ - which throughout the Bible is connected companionship and affection. This is also in the name of Ruth (friend), who refused to leave her mother-in-law, Naomi – Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. (Ruth 1:16) Shepherd would care for flock , lay down life and close connection between shepherd and sheep. Sheep can recognise the voice of the shepherd and He will lead them to good provision. Word : IS. Because He is my Shepherd , I shall not lack? There is no qualifier here (nothing - joy, peace, grace, provision, help, salvation, creativity, business ideas). He is faithful to provide what I need; I will not lack. (His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His ways higher than mine Many of us receive Jesus as Saviour and king but not as Shepherd – Good Shepherd , He laid down His life for us. Just believe and receive the Lord as your shepherd and let faith spring forth. Ask Him to remove any limiting beliefs and increase your faith. Q: Lord so many of your sheep are scattered and lost , maybe even I am in this situation – do you still care for me? Eze 34:11-12, 11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness |
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters. | Saying that our Good Shepherd “lays us down” is similar to the idea that He invites us to lay down in lovely places, just as we might say a waiter “seats us” at a table. Our shepherd knows our needs – just like sheep need grass and still clear water, so my God will liberally supply (fill until full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus – Phil 4:19 in every situation. The green pastures (pastures are food , fresh sprung up grass abundance like His grace) are a place for us to rest under the shepherd’s (God’s) watchful eye. It is a position of relaxation, contentment , rest and healing. How does sheep lie down? They lie down by bending the front legs first, dropping their chest to the ground and then bending their hind legs to lower their hips. They stop running around and being busy. When you eat , sit and eat don’t grab and run. Pause and enjoy the meal. When will sheep lie down? Sheep will only do when it experiences no risks, threats. Feels satisfied, confident, secure , provided for. My shepherd will do this for me and compel me to rest. When you are truly rested , we grow in awe and beauty of the Lord. What did Mary do? She sat as Jesus feet and listened . Salvation begins when we rest in the finished work of Jesus on the Christ. Still waters – (Rev 7:17 : Streams of living water): not stagnant, polluted where we see mosquitos, dengue pools but waters of peace, restful, comfort, quietness - you can see your face in the water. Sheep are a bit resistant to approaching running water and fear about being swept away in the waters or other dangers. Every sheep needs between one-and-a-half and three gallons of clean, fresh water daily. Pregnant and nursing ewes may need about five gallons of water a day. When Holy Spirit leads you into something there will always be waters of quietness /peace not unrest or disturbance. Response: Lord, I submit and will follow you, my shepherd. Remove any unbelief and lack of trust I have. Restore me to the joy of my salvation and place of rest. |
He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. | From physical needs now it is my soul the spiritual. He refreshes me, brings back life back to me. God leads us in circles, or cycles of righteousness, for His name’s sake. He is committed to our growth, and our journey with Him, so that He gets the glory. He wants us to grow in righteousness as He gradually conforms us to the likeness of His Son, from one degree of glory to the next, for His name’s sake. Also see Ps 25:11 : Pardon my iniquity for your name sake. Righteousness is a gift so let us desire it - “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” and we will have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. : John 10:10 |
Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me. [Talk to your God] | Valley of shadow of death : total blackness – pitch dark. David suddenly shifts from talking about God here at this central point of the psalm, apparently becoming aware of God’s presence as he starts talking to God directly: “YOU are with me”. We are prone to wonder and explore things on our own like sheep our sometimes God may lead us into difficult circumstances to manifest His light in the darkness to be a source of truth and revelation. Here the point David is so sure off is that when He leads me , I can have assurance. Lord will leave 99 and go find the one missing and celebrate when He finds the missing one. As His sons and daughters may our prayer be - Lord , give me a heart for the lost and be compassionate and see them as sheep without a shepherd just as you did. ( Matt 6:34) , As we Love you Lord, may we feed the flock of God , your sheep . Sticks and rods don’t sound very comforting. They speak of authority and discipline, yes, but when in the right hands, there is great comfort to be found. Rod and Staff :
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You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with [b]oil; My cup overflows. | How do we respond in the midst of trials and difficulties? We want to eat without our enemies or in absence of difficult situations or maybe too stressed out to eat. God wants to have communion with us and sets a table before us in the midst of the situation and He is our ever-present help in trouble . We just need to come and join Him at His table. Enemies can watch you but they are defeated and have no power in presence of our Victorious Shepherd. It is like a war scene where the defeated kings are brought in chains and can watch from afar, tired, hungry and see us eat at the Lords table. All they can do is scream or gnash their teeth. God is not only our provider, giving us what we need to survive, but He is a generous God, lavishing His love on us. This speaks of honour, and of rest. Sheep are surrounded by flies that irritate them and may lay eggs, maggots and give diseases to sheep. Flies don't like oil, because oil treats and heals and sheep are relieved and restored. In ancient times it was customary in hot climates for a host to provide his guest with olive oil to put on his head. The Lord blesses and anoints His believers with the Holy Spirit, whom oil symbolizes, to prepare them for His service. Here it is anointing for comfort that comes on body. comforts physically, emotionally and restoration. How does God give? Cup runs over , exceedingly more than I ask. What is my cup? “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup” (Psalm 16:5). David is talking about his great satisfaction with all God has given him, to the point of overflowing. |
Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord. | Who leads? The Shepherd keeps the sheep and leads - then why are you worried? Right sequence : Shepherd Leads – sheep follow and surely goodness and mercy will hunt me /pursue me - Every day : Sunday through Saturday - it never ceases. Follow Jesus and not the benefits : John 10:4- When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. We can often feel like we’re plagued by troubles and that difficulties seem to follow us around, but it is just the opposite. For those in God’s flock, under the care of the Good Shepherd, it’s goodness and mercy that’s doing the hounding, eager to capture us and surround us with good things. And not just for a short period, but like the psalmist may we express faith that it will continue all the days of our lives and that we will dwell in the House of God and presence forever (Ex 29:45) Destiny : Affirm - I will dwell in house of God - why? . To worship Him for eternity. Even when we mess up, we feel unworthy / failed - continue to worship God and see His power come into your life and change circumstances. He is worthy of our worship and our praise. |
Names of God in Psalms 23 (for His Name Sake)
V1 Jehovah Rohi | Shepherd |
V1 Jehovah Jireh | Provider (no lack) |
V2 Jehovah Shalom | Peace & rest (Green pastures and still water) |
V3 Jehovah Rapha | Healer (refreshes and restores my soul) |
V3 Jehovah Tsidkenu | Righteousness (Way , truth and life) |
V4 Jehovah Shammah | He is there (to lead and watch) |
V5 Jehovah Nissi | Banner (His table spread in presence of enemies) |
V5 Jehovah Makkadesh | Sanctifier (anoints my head with oil) |
V6 El Elyon | God Most High (House of the Lord forever) |
Applications
Shepherd – sheep relationship is mutual relationship based on love, patience, humility and trust and only true for covenant believers in Yeshua who have accepted Him as Lord and saviour. Only then I have a blessed hope and assurance. It is our responsibility to obey, conform, and submit to the good Shepherd to lead and then I shall not lack even in the midst of difficult situations as long as I follow Him. I can be confident in God's faithfulness that I can depend on Him even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death when I walk in His will and obey Him. Ask Him to remove any unbelief and lack of trust. Restore me to the joy of my salvation and place of rest. Thank Him for never letting go of me even when I did not know I was lost. |
In world we live is great injustice - let us be instruments of righteousness for His name sake as He leads us in paths of righteousness and manifest the glory of God. Desire to walk in holiness and righteousness – let us hunger and thirst for righteousness. Seek actively and pray for those who have walked away or staying away from faith or fellowship. Maybe a child, sibling, spouse or close friend. Seek the Lord for them - don't give up on them. What did the Father do to His prodigal son? He looked and sought Him , hugged Him , put the best clothes and feast with fatted calf. There is joy in heaven when one wavered / lost comes back |
When enemies are around me - it is not a cause for failing or running away. God can still nourish, provide in the midst of the situation. It is the shepherd who leads the sheep not vice-verse , so why stress and worry. Let go of being in charge and worrying and let your Shepherd be your leader, to paths of righteousness , still waters, tables in presence of enemies. Want to be a great leader? First learn to be a sheep. Great leaders are great shepherds , before that they were sheep. Moses , Abraham, Joseph, David, Jacob. |
Even when we mess up, we feel unworthy / failed - continue to worship God and see His power come into your life and change circumstances. |
Pray for shepherds in the nations and for our shepherds in Kainos regularly , for protection over them and for them to have desire for God’s word after His own heart and they will feed the flock of God with knowledge and understanding. Jer 3:15 |
Closing Thoughts :
What will happen if the Lord is not my shepherd? Lack , fear evil, lead aways from righteous paths , anxiety (no rest), no table, no anointing , no overflowing of cup …
Closing Prayer : Heb 13:20 – 21
20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
