Jehovah-rohi, my Shepherd

Today I want to share an excerpt from the book I am currently reading, Names of God, by Nathan Stone. This excerpt comes from the chapter explain God's name, Jehovah-rohi, meaning Jehovah my shepherd. For me, it is probably the character of God that has been most evident to me over the past few years. I pray that as you read this excerpt you too can get a greater appreciation of God as your shepherd and His ultimate plan for your life.

There were not only wolves and pitfalls for the sheep. There was another significant danger from which the shepherd protected them. As he went ahead his eye was ever on the alert for snakes whose sting was death, and with this staff he would crush their heads. So the great Shepherd, who has already sealed the serpent's doom, will deliver us from falling into his power. We are safe in the protection of His table spread before us even in the presence of the enemies. He knows everyone of His sheep by name. He knows the particular need of each one of us. He knows our peculiarities. He knows our weaknesses. Do we know His voice as we should? Do we trust Him and follow Him as we should? Is there the beautiful intimacy between us that there should be? Do we love the Shepherd's presence? Can we distinguish His voice from the voice of the wold I. Sheep's clothing who comes among us to wrest and wreck our faith?

And when we are sorely tried He will lead gently on. When we are weary and wounded He will anoint our heads and heal our wounds and refresh us with tender care. As His sheep we are led by many a way. Sometimes the path is throughout fresh green meadows; sometimes over rough, steep, rocky paths, perhaps through dark places where the sun scarcely shines. But we are ever being led to one place. After the heat and burden of the day, He gathers us into the fold,where there is no more fear of wolf or thief and where all is sweet repose and safety. And then we know that whatever the sufferings and sorrows, and trials and terrors of the day, His goodness and loving-kindness followed us.

So The Lord Jesus, our Jehovah-Rohi, will lead us into that final fold and rest "before the throne of God" where, John says, they "serve him day and night in his temple, and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd." (Revelation 7:15-17). So we "shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever." (page 174-175)

God is our Shepherd, and as this excerpt said, we are ever being led to one place. It is so easy to forget about our ultimate destination as we get caught up in our circumstances here on earth. So lets take some time today to be still and meditate on that promise for our lives from Revelation 7:15-17.

For this reason they are [now] before the [very] throne of God and serve Him day and night in His sanctuary (temple); and He Who is sitting upon the throne will protect and spread His tabernacle over and shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun smite them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:15-17 AMP

Don't look for shortcuts to God

Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way of life - to God! - is vigorous and requires total attention. Matthew 7:13-14 MSG

Our western world is indeed 'flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life'. A quick search on the internet for 'how to have successful life' will show you that! In fact, when I did that search this morning, google returned 408,000,000 results! Indeed it does require our total attention to remained focused on God and God alone.

The Amplified Bible describes it this way, which some of you may be more familiar with, 

Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Matthew 7:13-14 AMP

The way that leads to life "is straitened and compressed". Straitened, a new word for me today, means, restricted in range or scope. Compressed, meaning, having a narrow shape as if flattened, especially sideways.  So the way to live God's life, is to restrict the range or scope of influences in your life. Limit them only to Him and His word. Don't go looking for alternatives, side paths. In terms of where you seek your answers to life, keep you world narrow, let there be one source alone, God. His way of living is the best way of living your life. His plan for you is for good.

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.  Romans 8:28 AMP

We have to make a choice. A choice to be vigorous and give God our total attention. A choice to seek him and all that He is.

Seek, inquire of and for the Lord, and crave Him and His strength (His might and inflexibility to temptation); seek and require His face and His presence [continually] evermore.  Psalm 105:4 AMP

Question for today, is there something in your life you have been seeking an answer for? Have you been seeking God for the answer, or looking elsewhere? Take time today, to spend time in His presence today and seek the Lord's answer and wait expectantly. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him.

The Lord is my portion, or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore I will hope in Him and waiting expectantly for Him. The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God's word]. Lamentations 3:24-25 AMP

The Spirit of Truth

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honour and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. John 16:13-15 AMP

Truth. The absolute truth. Jesus said, I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life; no one gets to the Father apart from me. John 14:6  MSG.  Before Jesus returned to heaven he promised to send a Friend, the Holy Spirit, to continue to always be with us reveal God's truth to us.

I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because is doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to lok for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you! John 14:16 -17 MSG

In this world today it is so easy to be drawn into thinking that is not God's truth. Influences on our 'thinking' surround us, family, friends, social media, books, television, movies, advertising billboards etc. Some influences are more subtle than others. As Christians, our main influence must remain God's truth. We need to be continually reading and meditating on His Word, expecting revelation from the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.

Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me, in [all] the faith and love which are [for us] in Christ Jesus. Guard and keep [with the greatest care] the precious and excellently adapted [Truth] which has been entrusted [to you], by the [help of the] Holy Spirit Who makes His home in us. 2 Timothy 1:13-14 AMP

Question for today, who is making a home in your heart, is it the Spirit of Truth, or is it the words of other influences? Who influencing your thinking the most? Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you, who is the major influence on your thoughts? If it isn't the Spirit of Truth, repent and ask for help to put the Holy Spirit in His rightful place in your life. The Holy Spirit is the revealer of God's truth for your life, and His truth, as Jesus declares, will set you free.

So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. John 8:31-32 AMP

Seize and hold fast

Whereas this One [Christ], after He had offered a single sacrifice for our sins [that shall avail] for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until His enemies should be made a stool beneath His feet. For by a single offering He has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy ..... So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. Hebrews 10:12-14, 23 AMP

The world is full of war and evil deeds. Full of sin. I find it can be very easy to be consumed with horrific nature of the atrocities that are being committed elsewhere in the world and lose any sense of hope for a world that lives in peace. The above scripture from Hebrews reminds us that because of Jesus single sacrifice for each of us and our sin. In Jesus, we are completely cleansed and perfected. We are also reminded that God's enemies will be made a stool beneath His feet. As we wait for this victory to manifest, we are called to hold fast to our hope in God and be strong in Him. These are spiritual battles taking place in our world.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical components], but against despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Ephesians 6:10-12 AMP

Today, in your personal world, you may or may not be facing physical death as many of our brothers and sisters in Christ are around the world, but there is a spiritual battle underway for your salvation and place in God's kingdom. We need to make a choice to stay in the stronghold that is Jesus.

The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him. Nahum 1:7 AMP

Question for today, in your world, are you able to seize and hold fast hope in Jesus, who is reliable and faithful to His word? If you are struggling to find hope, ask Jesus to change your heart and fill it with hope. He loves you and wants you to have hope and be filled with His peace.


May grace [God's unmerited favour] and spiritual peace [which means peace with God and harmony and unity and undisturbedness] be yours from God our Father and from teh Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:2 AMP

All the black sheep.

Still, it's what God had in mind all along, 

to crush Him with pain.

The plan was that He give himself as an offering for sin so that He'd see life come from it - life, life and more life.

And God's plan will deeply prosper through Him.

Out of that terrible travail of soul, 

He'll see that it's worth it and be glad that he did it.

Through what He experienced, my righteous one, my servant,

will make many "righteous ones,"

as he himself carries the burden of their sins.

Therefore I'll reward him extravagantly -

the best of everything, the highest honours -

Because He looked death in the face and didn't flinch,

because He embraced the company of the lowest.

He took on His own shoulders the sin of many,

He took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Isaiah 53:10-12 MSG

Jesus, the Righteous one. Me, one of the black sheep.

But, because Jesus, carried the burden of my sins, because He looked death in the face and didn't flinch, He has made a way for me to be righteous too. He has given us an opportunity to be cleansed of our sin, so we can have a renewed relationship with our Heavenly Father. All we need to do is have true faith in Jesus.

Who God put forward [before the eyes of all] as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment. It was to demonstrate and prove at the present time (in the now season) that He Himself is righteous and that He justifies and accepts as righteous him who has [true] faith in Jesus. Romans 3:25-26 AMP

For me it is a daily decision to believe and trust in Jesus and declare that I am made righteous in Christ. There are some days when I continually 'stuff up', mainly through lack of self-control and patience, which then leads to frustration, making me not the most pleasant person to be around! I am not perfect, I acknowledge that. I make mistakes. I acknowledge that, and ask forgiveness for them. But Jesus is perfect. Jesus doesn't make mistakes. Jesus is my advocate with my Heavenly Father. He is the One who is interceding for me. As the disciple John wrote, 

My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God's law and sin. But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate (One Who will intercede for us) with the Father - [it is] Jesus Christ [the all] righteous [upright, just, Who conforms to the Father's will in every purpose, thought and action]. And He [that same Jesus Himself] is the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins, and not for ours alone but also for [the  sins of] the whole world. 1 John 2:1-2 AMP

Thank you Jesus that you are my Advocate. Thank you that you go to the Father on my behalf and present me as righteous to Him.  Thank you Jesus that took up the cause of all the black sheep.

Question for today, is there an area in your life where you are feeling like 'the black sheep'? Ask God to forgive you, and help you to have true faith in Jesus. Ask God to help you to know in your heart, that because of Jesus, you have right standing with Him. You are not the black sheep. You are His precious child,  filled with peace, covered with grace.

Therefore, since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us [grasp the fact that we] have [the peace of reconciliation to hold and enjoy] peace with God through out Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favour) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God. 

Romans 5:1-2 AMP

Thank you Jesus

For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathise and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favour to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]. 

Hebrews 4:15-16 AMP

Today, join with me in praying a prayer of thanksgiving ....

Thank you Jesus that you understand our weaknesses. Thank you that you have felt our infirmities. Thank you that you have been assaulted with temptation. Thank you that you know what it is like to be us, to be me! 

Thank you that you, Jesus, did not succumb to sin, as I so often do, but you remained pure and obedient to your Father's will. Thank you that because of you, I can draw fearlessly, confidently and boldly to the throne of grace and receive mercy for our failures. Thank you that you give me the perfect help at the right time. Thank you. Amen

Sometimes it is good to pause in the midst of our busy lives, and say thanks. The Bible is constantly reminding us to give thanks. In Psalms alone (amplified version) I found 39 scriptures calling us to 'give thanks'. 

Rejoice in the Lord, you [consistently] righteous (upright and in right standing with God), and give thanks at the rememberance of His holiness. 

Psalm 97:12 AMP

Or as The Message Bible simply puts it,

So, God's people, shout praise to GOD, Give thanks to our Holy God! Psalm 97:12 MSG

Our God is so worthy of our thanks and praise. He is our God, our Creator, our Shepherd, our Fortress, our Deliverer. 

You are my God, and I will confess, praise and give thanks to You; You are my God, I will extol You. O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. 

Psalm 118:28-29 AMP

Question for today, is there something happening in your life that you don't feel very thankful about? Why not take a few moments now to put that circumstance aside, and think about what you do have to be thankful for. Shout those things out to God, and give Him thanks for them. Then, thank Him in faith, for the good that will come out from the 'not-so-good' circumstance. Speaking from personal experience, the good does come, sometimes we just have to wait for a while, being firm and immovable in our faith!

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory [making us conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labour in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose]. 

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 AMP

His servant body

He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you're named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 MSG

As I am writing this I realise that the worship music that is playing in the background is 'Once Again' by Matt Redman. The song starts with..

Jesus Christ, I think upon your sacrifice

You became nothing, poured out to death

Many times I have wondered at your gift of life

And I am in that place once again

I'm in that place once again

Yes, that is exactly what is happening in my mind and heart as I read the scripture 1 Peter 2:24-25. I am wondering again, wondering in amazement at all Jesus did for us, for me, on the Cross. The way Jesus came to earth to be with us. The pain that Jesus suffered when He had done no wrong, so we could be free to live the right way. His sacrifice for us. This scripture from Philippians describes His humility and sacrifice.

Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained.  But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! Philippians 2:5-8 AMP

Jesus sacrifice was all part of God's master plan to reconcile us back to Him. A way for us to be in relationship with God again. God never gave up on us. Paul explains this truth in Colossians,

And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him [the Father] made peace by means of the blood on His cross. And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. Colossians 1:20-22 AMP

It was always God's plan to bring us back into His presence, to commune with Him once more. One final scripture to 'wonder on', Jesus prayer when He was in Gethsemane,

And going a little farther, He fell on the ground and kept praying that if it were possible the [fatal] hour might pass from Him. And He was saying, Abba, [which means] Father, everything is possible for You. Take away this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what You [will]. Mark 14:35-36

Thank you Jesus for your obedience to your Father and the sacrifice you made so we could be free to live the right way. 

Question for today, is there an area in your life that God is asking for your obedience or for you to make a sacrifice? What has your response been so far? Ask God to help you to come to the place where your prayer can whole-heartedly be the same as Jesus, yet not what I will, but what You will.