JEHOVAH ROI – THE LORD MY SHEPARD

Today’s talk is on the Jehovah titles and it is called JEHOVAH ROI, MEANING “THE LORD MY SHEPERD.

We’ve always stressed in our previous studies the necessity of adhering to what we term “The Law of First Mention”, so this time the title is first mentioned in that beautiful Psalm 23, which sets forth Jehovah’s provision and protection for His people Israel.

This lovely Psalm reads:  The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

It is of interest to note that eight of the ten Jehovah titles are referred to, or mentioned, within this one Psalm.

Verse one refers to Jehovah-Jirah—The Lord will provide, and of course to the final title, today’s title, Jehovah Roi—The Lord my Shepherd.

Verse three refers to Jehovah-Ropheka—The Lord that healeth thee, and also Jehovah-Zidkenu—The Lord our Righteousness.

Verse four refers to Jehovah-Shammah—The Lord is There.

Verse five refers to Jehovah-Nissi—The Lord our Banner, and to Jehovah-Mekaddishkem—The Lord that doth Sanctify Thee, and also to Jehovah-Shalom—The Lord send Peace.

So here in this wonderful Psalm, the Lord is represented as “The True or Good Shepherd”.  As we will find as we progress with this study, there are five different types or levels of “shepherds” mentioned throughout God’s Word, but before looking at this aspect, let us identify the two main entities mentioned in this Psalm.

There is not only the “shepherd” but there are also the “sheep”.  So, in order to fully understand the position and actions of the “shepherd”, it is necessary to understand the identity and nature of the “sheep”, otherwise we could very easily end up with an incorrect, or at least, an incomplete understanding of the role of the “shepherd”.

So let’s start off with:

THE SHEEP

The most casual study of the Bible leaves us in no doubt whatsoever that the “the sheep” are God’s people Israel.  This is abundantly clear from the following references: Ezekiel 34:30-31 we read “Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God”.

n Psalm 79:13 “So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks forever; we will show forth they praise to all generations”. In Psalm 95:7 “For He is our 

God: and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand”.

THE SHEEP, ISRAEL, HAVE TURNED FROM JEHOVAH

Isaiah 53:6 states “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all”.

THEY HAVE BECOME SCATTERED WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

In 1 Kings 22:17 we read “And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd; and the Lord said, these have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace”.

And in Matthew 9: 35-38 we read “And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  But when He saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”

“Then saith He unto his disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into his harvest”.

A friend of the writer remarked — “The way I see it, the Israelite without his shepherd is meat on the plate for the alien.  But with his shepherd, the Israelite is invincible”.

That just about sums up the situation which we face today.  The enemy cannot afford to allow us to be invincible, hence the unremitting attack upon our faith and everything that pertains both to our identity and our destiny.  The axiom of “divide and scatter” is nothing new.  Satan is an expert at it which leads us to the next factor.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PRESENT WORLD SYSTEM SYMBOLIZED BY THE EXPRESSION “EGYPT”

In Genesis 46:34 we read “That ye shall say, Thy servants trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers; that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians”.

Nothing has changed.  As the sheep and the shepherd was an abomination to the Egyptians of those far off days, so they are still an abomination to modern Egypt, which is often used throughout the Scriptures to represent this Babylonian system under which we now exist!

But having identified those who are God’s sheep, let us understand that the Word speaks most clearly of those who are NOT His sheep.  This is very clear, a most important distinction, is not a matter of theology, but is made by no other than our Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

In John 10:24-27 it says “Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, how long dost thou make us to doubt?  If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.  Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not, the work that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.  But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Speaking of these very same people in His Revelation to John, our Lord added this stinging indictment: “ I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan”, “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (reference Rev 2:9 and 3:9)

So we find, as in everything else, there is the true and false, the good and the bad, those who ARE God’s chosen and those who are NOT God’s.

But let us now examine the situation regarding the shepherds.  As stated previously, there are five different kinds of shepherds mentioned in the Bible.  Two kinds relate the human variety, the other three relating to our Lord Jesus Christ.

The human variety are referred to variously as “watchmen”, “pastors”, “shepherds” or “prophets”.  Of each of these varieties there are two types, namely, the False and the True.

The “False Shepherds” are referred to so often in god’s Word that it would take a great deal of space to record it all.  There are chapters after chapters all dealing with what God thinks of these “false shepherds” and more importantly, what He intends to do with them.  So we will content ourselves with just a few of these references in order to firmly establish our point.

We will commence with the warning from our Lord as found in Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves”

In Isaiah 56:10-12 we read “His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber”.  “Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand; they all look to their own way, everyone for his gain, from his quarter.  “Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow shall be as this day, and more abundant.”

Also in Jeremiah 23”1-4 it states “Woe unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture saith the Lord.  Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; “Ye have scattered my flock and driven them away, and have not visited them; behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord”.

“And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds, and they shall be fruitful and increase.  And I will set up shepherds, over them which shall feed them; and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord”.

Several other Scriptures start off with the following:  Jeremiah 25:34-36 “Howl, ye shepherds, and cry and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock”.

Ezekiel 34:1-10 “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!  Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? 

Matthew 26:31 states “Then saith Jesus unto them, all ye shall be offended because of me this night, for it is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.”

To anyone who sincerely commits themselves to pasturing God’s people, and expounding His Word, all of the foregoing is a daunting warning.  But the fact has to be faced; Those who do not know who the “sheep” are, cannot possibly give them good and proper pasture.

If they do not recognize the “sheep” as being the “sheep” then how in the world can they give them the correct food and care?  Because of this situation, the real “sheep” are being fed with dog food, or food fit for everything else, other than “sheep”.

No wonder we are in a mess, The wrong food has completely destroyed our entire national digestive system, and worse still, our entire national immune system, so that we are now prey to every disease one could possibly mention, both physically and spiritually.

But fortunately, there are also the “True Shepherds”, those who do not fall into the above categories.  These are they who take heed to the following exhortation recorded in 2 Timothy 4:1-5.  “I solemnly charge you, in the presence of God, and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His Kingdom; Preach the Word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

This next quote is from the New American Standard Bible, and it states “Like marriage, the role of shepherd, pastor, or teacher, is not to be entered into lightly.  There are great rewards for the faithful, but terrible punishment for those who violate their responsibilities. (unquote).

So now we come to the role of the Divine Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ.  We find as we search the Scriptures that He is referred to in three ways.  FIRSTLY, HE IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD.

John 10:11-16 records these wonderful words “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  But he that is in hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The hireling fleeth, because he is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so I know the Father and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one-fold and one shepherd.

There are five aspects regarding the Good Shepherd with which we should be conversant.

1. HE WILL GATHER US – From Isaiah 4-:11 we read “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd; he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young”.  And in Jeremiah 31:10 it says, “Hear the Word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his sheep”.

2. HE WILL SEEK AND FEED US -Ezekiel 34:11-16 “For thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.  I will feed them in a good pasture and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be, there shall they be in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.  I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God.

3. HE FOUND US -In Matthew 10:5-6 it says, “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel”.  And in Matthew 15:24 we read “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the House of Israel” and Matthew 18:11 states “For the Son of Man is come to save that which was lost”; Luke 19:10 we read “For the Son of Man is come to seek and save that which was lost”.

4. HE SHALL REIGN OVER US AS KING – In Ezekiel 37:24-28 we read partly, “And David my servant shall be king over them, and they all shall have one shepherd; they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statues, and do them”.  “Moreover, I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.” “And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.”

5. HE IS THE ONLY DOOR TO THE SHEEPFOLD OR KINGDOM – In John 10:1-2 and 7-10 we read “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, I am the door of the sheep.  All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture”.

HE IS THE GREAT SHEPHERD

Hebrews 13:20 states “Now the God of peace, which brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.”  So this He achieved by and through the shedding of His blood in death in order to redeem us, followed of course by His resurrection from the dead.

HE IS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD

“And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”
(reference is 1 Peter 5:4.

The existence of a chief shepherd obviously implies that there will also be other shepherds.  When our Lord returns, these shepherds will be manifest when He rewards those who have been “faithful shepherds” during their life and service for Him.  These are they of whom the Lord referred to in Malachi 3:16-17 which says in part, “They shall be mind, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that servith him”.

When this wonderful day arrives, those who are counted worthy to be His, will then experience the greatest reward, and the greatest joy, far beyond anything that we could ever hope for.

As it is recorded in Matthew 13:43 “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father”.

WHO HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR

Jehovah’s complete ministry, both to us as individuals, and to His Israel people as a nation, is thus so wonderfully summed up in the beautiful words of the 23rd Psalm, the “Shepherd Psalm”.

When that great day finally arrives, the Lord shall then forever be our Shepherd.

We shall never again want.