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.”
