Jehovah-Rohi (5/26-31)

Jehovah-Rohi:  The Lord My Shepherd  

          Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

          (1)  The name of Jehovah-Rohi is the Hebrew beginning of Psalm 23.  It is both a name of God and an affirmation (to state positively or with confidence) of faith.  David, out on the hills of Bethlehem in the cool nights, watched the sheep, knowing that bears, wolves, lions, and thieves menaced (threaten or endanger) his flock (sheep) himself. 

          (2)  David was the shepherd who watched for the sheep’s welfare (make sure the sheep are in well-protective place).  But David had confidence that Jehovah-Rohi watched over the shepherd’s own needs and safety.

          (3)  “The Lord My Shepherd” was present to protect, lead, and provide pasture for David.  David gave us a marvelous example, just as David’s Shepherd was Jehovah, so today, we should realize that Jehovah is our Shepherd.

          (4)  Christ declared, “I am the good shepherd.”  As proof, He spoke of His coming death: “The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

          (5)  Christ specifically denied that all other religious leaders who became founders of religions were also shepherd of humanity.  The kind of religious leaders that Jesus was talking about were “thieves and robbers” (John 10:8).

          (6)  It might be helpful to read Galatians 1:6 to clarify what Jesus meant. Paul wrote that there is only one gospel.  “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert (turned away what is good or true or right) the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7).

          (7)  “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).

          (8)  The gospel of Jesus Christ is “the good shepherd who already gave His life for the sheep.” Jesus is Jehovah-Rohi, The Lord My Shepherd.

          (9)  It might be interested to learn what Jesus meant by John 10:16. Christ spoke of having “other sheep” who would “also” come and “be one flock.”  Here He prophesied of the worldwide call of the Gentile believers to join with the Jewish believers in “one flock”—His true church.

          (10)  All of the wonderful and happy benefits described in Psalm 23 belong to the believer, by virtue (good quality) of ours belonging to Christ—our wonderful, strong, thoughtful, and caring Shepherd.

          Key:  When we need guidance, food, protection, or comfort, let us, like David of old, look beyond the hills to Jehovah-Rohi, “The Lord My Shepherd.”

Jehovah-Tsidkenu

Jehovah-Tsidkenu:  The Lord Our Righteousness

          Jeremiah 23:6 “In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; Now this is His name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.”

          (1)  Jeremiah prophesied until the time of the Babylonian exile.  He warned Israel that because of her sins (city of Jerusalem and the people), God was going to allow the Babylonians to invade, destroy Solomon’s temple, and lead them away into a seventy-year captivity—one from which many would never return, not even from their children.

          (2)  Babylon’s first invasion came in 606 B.C., the second in 597 B.C., and the third in 586 B.C.  Then Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed, and the people deported (to force a person to leave a country).

          (3)  God blamed the idolatrous (people who worship the idols) and faithless Kings and the false religious teachers for leading Israel into sin, causing Him to send the people into captivity.  To them He exclaims (cry out or speak suddenly), “You have scattered My flock (people)” (Jer. 23:2).

          (4)  God then looked far into the future, to the end-times and the millennial kingdom (one-thousand-year-peace), when Israel shall praise the Lord for returning them from their captivity among the nations (Jer. 23:8).

          (5)  Jeremiah proclaims that the final return of the children of Israel will coincide (happen at the same time) with God’s raising up the Messiah—“I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness” (Jer. 23:5).  Next He adds that “Israel will dwell safely” (v.6).

          (6)  It means that in the messianic age (during the reign of Christ, the Messiah)  the existence of Israel in the Middle East is guaranteed by God; no longer will nations threaten to destroy ‘her’ (His people and the city of Jerusalem). The Messiah’s name is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, “The Lord Our Righteousness.”

          (7)  Paul, writing the letter to the Romans 650 years later, brought the subject about Jeremiah, and declared that unbelieving Israel is still looking for her righteousness, while Jehovah-Jesus is “righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom. 10:1-4). 

          (8)  It might be good to know about “the parable of the wedding feast” which is told by Christ, shows that no one is allowed into heaven wearing his own good deed for righteousness.  God (the King) orders the dismissal of the one who refused the pure garment of righteousness (Christ), which He had provided for all guests to wear (Matt. 22:11-13).

          (9)  It is not our good deeds that makes us righteous. God’s holy standards is provided only by God Himself, through faith in Christ; for it is He who is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, “The Lord Our Righteousness.”

          Key: “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2Cor. 5:21 NLT).

Jehovah-Shalom

Jehovah-Shalom:  The Lord Is Peace

          Judges 6:24 “So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it “The-Lord-Is-Peace.” To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.”

          (1)  Judges 6:1-16 tells a story of how Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So during the part of the time of the judges, the Midianites held Israel under their control and rule over them and made raids (sudden attack or invade) against Israel’s farming communities. Midian also took their animals.

          (2)  After seven years of Israel’s oppressors, they cried out to the Lord for deliverance from Midianites (Judges 6:6-7). God, through the angel of the Lord, called upon Gideon, to lead the fight against Israel’s oppressors.

          (3)  Gideon struggled to accept the call of God to lead the Israel against Midian so he asked for three signs to make sure that God actually asked him to do the impossible task. Gideon realized that he had seen the holy face of the Angel of the Lord, and that he might be about to die.

          (4)  God spoke, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die” (Judges 6:23).  Then Gideon built an altar to God and name it Jehovah-Shalom, “The Lord Is Peace” (Judges 6:24).

          Key:  We could learn, as did Gideon that our true peace can only come from Jehovah-Shalom, “The Lord Is Peace.”

Jehovah-Nissi

Jehovah-Nissi:  The Lord Is My Banner

          Exodus 17:15 (NKJV) “And Moses built an altar and called its name, “The Lord-Is-My-Banner.” KJV: “Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-Nissi.”

          (1)  After the Israelites had been delivered from Egypt and Pharaoh, during their wilderness journey a new enemy, the Amalekites, arose “and fought with Israel in Rephidim” (Ex. 17:8).  At Moses’ command Joshua formed an army and led it against Amalek, while nearby hill Moses held the staff of God over his head.

          (2)  So long as Moses held up the staff of God, Joshua would prevailed (to win against); when his arms grew heavy and he lowered the rod, Amalek would prevail.  Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands until Israel was victorious.

          (3)  Joshua defeated Amalek, and the Lord announced that He would “have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (Ex. 17:9-16).  Moses built an altar there and called it Jehovah-Nissi, “The-Lord-Is-My-Banner” (Ex. 17:15).

         (4)  Aaron and Hur, we should hold up the tiring hands of our pastors, teachers, evangelists, missionaries, and all who fight the good fight of faith (2Tim. 4:7).  Amalek is an illustration of the flesh to the Christian.

          (5)  After leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea, Israel faced a new enemy—Amalek—who is a picture of the flesh (the old sinful nature of man). The war between Amalek (the flesh) and the believer has raged on for almost two thousand years, and will continue until Jesus comes.

          (6)  This warfare with the flesh is perpetual (continue forever), but will be won as long as we look to Jehovah with uplifted arms, seeking His strength.  Paul speaks of this war against the flesh and warns the believer (Gal. 5:26, 16, 24).

          (7)  Isaiah 11:12 looks prophetically into the future millennial age, following Christ’s return, and gloriously announces, “He [God] will set up a banner for the nations, and will assemble (gather) the outcasts of Israel.”

          (8)  The cross of Christ is our banner, and we must hold it high (John 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself”).

       

   Key:  We learn from this outline that, in the battles of life, the believer’s strength comes not from himself but from Jehovah-Nissi, “The-Lord-Is-My-Banner.”

Jehovah-Ropheka

Jehovah-Ropheka:  The Lord Your Healer

          Exodus 15:26 And said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your god and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought upon the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

          (1)  When God delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, went through the Red Sea and they entered the wilderness for three days and they found no water to drink. On the fourth day they reached the waters of Marah, but the water was bitter and they could not drink it.

          (2) They complained to Moses, and the Lord showed him a tree, when cast into the water, it became sweet and the Israel were able to drink water (Ex. 15:25). At this wonderful event, a miracle of instant chemical purification of bitter water, the Lord revealed His name as Jehovah-Ropheka, “The Lord Who Heals You.”

          (3)  God is the great healer.  He “healed” the bitter waters so that Israel could drink and live.  It is important to notice that as God turned bitter water into the sweet water of life for God’s people by means of a tree, so also Christ turned the bitter wages of sin into sweet life by His death for us on “a tree” (Acts 5:30).

          (4) God cast this “tree” (the cross) into the midst of a bitter world, and gave life and joy to all who by faith will receive Christ as personal Savior. John 1:12 tells us that “as many as received Him, to them gave he (you) power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name” (KJV).

          Key:  This outline should teach us not to complain so quickly, as did the children of Israel.  We are to trust God, who will turn our bitter trials to sweetness by means of a tree, the Cross. He is Jehovah-Ropheka: “The Lord Who Heals You.”

Jehovah-Jireh

Jehovah-Jireh:  The Lord Will Provide

          Gen. 22:14 NKJV “And Abraham called the name of the place, The Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, ‘In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’”

          (1)  God promised Abraham that from him He would make a great nation; and He ordered Abraham to leave his homeland, the ancient moon-god city of Ur. Abraham was 75 and Sarah 65 at this time, already old for moving and pioneering. Yet they obeyed God, packed up, and head (go) out for faraway Canaan.

          (2)  Twenty-four years later, when Abraham was 99 and Sarah 89, God promised that they would soon have a son named Isaac, who would be Abraham’s covenant’s heir.  Months later, when Abraham was 100 and Sarah 90, by a miracle of Almighty God, Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

          (3)  Then the great test came some years later.  God commanded Abraham to take the young Isaac (his only child by Sarah, his heir, his sole hope of the future fulfillment of God’s promise that Abraham would be a father of many nations) and offering him as a burnt offering on Mt. Moriah, later the site of Jerusalem. 

          (4)  In trust and innocence Isaac asked his father, “But where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”  Abraham’s reply of faith and compassion was simply, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burning offering” (Gen. 22:7,8).

          (5)  One of the most moving moments in the Bible history occurred (happened) when God’s call stopped Abraham’s hand from slaying his son, and a ram for the sacrifice was seen caught by his horns in a nearby thicket (bush). Abraham called that place Jehovah-Jireh, “The-Lord-Will-Provide.”

          (6)  Abraham believed that God, who miraculously brought Isaac into the world, would raise him from the dead, even if the boy was sacrificed (Heb. 11:19).

          (7)  Isaac, as a type, or illustration, of the submissive Christ, went to the same Moriah—the site of the temple and near to Calvary—in obedience to the Father’s will (plan).  Christ was the true Lamb of God provided by Jehovah.

          (8)  In this case the Father did not stop the sacrifice at Calvary; but in His love for us and desire for our salvation, He allowed His only Son’s life to be taken.  Christ’s coming and His atoning (forgiving) death were fulfillment of the name Jehovah-Jireh (John 3:16 memorize it).

          (9)  Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56).  Jesus was referring to the day that Abraham offered Isaac and saw, in a typical way, “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). 

          Key: This great outline, it should teach us to trust God daily for His provision in every test of life.  God is Jehovah-Jireh, “The-Lord-Will-Provide.”