Listen to the Sermon:

06_02_2019_jehovahrohithelordmyshepherd_donruhlDownload

Download the Notes:

06_02_2019_jehovahrohithelordmyshepherd_donruhlDownload

Jehovah-Rohi: The-Lord-My-Shepherd 

Psalm 23.1 

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • June 2, In the year of our Lord Christ, 2019 

Scripture Reader and Reading: Phil Joseph – Psalm 100.1–3 

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Larry Amberg – No Suggestions 

Persuasion: 

  1. Jehovah-Rohi: The-Lord-My-Shepherd 
    1. You have heard the famous Psalm, 
      1. probably the most well-known and most loved Scripture in all the world. 
      2. As I am sure you know, David wrote Psalm 23, and 
        1. David was a sheep herder, a shepherd. 
        2. As you probably also know, 
          1. David thought on things, and 
          2. his most cherished thought was the Lord. 
    2. Therefore, I have no doubt 
      1. that those many days, weeks, months, and years, 
      2. as he thought about his work of tending and herding his sheep, 
        1. that he started thinking of how the Lord served as his Shepherd. 
        2. Everything that David did for his sheep, 
          1. he realized that the Lord did the same for him. 
          2. Such thoughts would have thrilled his soul. 
    3. He saw that all of his sheep’s needs were fulfilled because 
      1. he was their shepherd and 
      2. that was his job. 
        1. Without his tender care, 
        2. they would soon die. 
          1. They would wander off somewhere dangerous, or 
          2. a predator would get them. 
      3. David’s sheep had peace 
        1. so that they could lie down in fields and 
        2. they could eat whenever they desired. 
          1. When they needed water, 
          2. it was there, because 
            1. David had led them to a place 
            2. where the pastures were good and water was available. 
        3. He saw that his sheep had peace because 
          1. he was there to protect them. 
          2. He knew that he would use his staff 
            1. to drive away any predator. 
            2. The predators could watch from afar or along a canyon, but 
              1. the sheep would be safe. 
              2. They had nothing to fear and 
                1. it showed as they followed him. 
      4. When David’s sheep had any kind of problems, 
        1. skin problems, or whatever 
        2. he would take care of them, 
          1. pouring on oil to soothe the issue. 
          2. They had a good life with him as their shepherd. 
    4. As David observed these things in his sheep, 
      1. he realized that he had all the same things with the Lord as his shepherd. 
      2. Take for example, eating. 
        1. When David led those sheep to green pastures, 
        2. they could eat to their heart’s content, or 
          1. they could lie down, or 
          2. they could walk around. 
      3. David saw that his life was the same way. 
        1. He could eat what and whenever he desired. 
        2. He could come and go. 
          1. He had nothing to fear and 
          2. he had whatever he needed. 
      4. All of these things moved him to write a short poem on how the Lord functioned as his Shepherd. 
    5. Psalm 23
      Jehovah-Rohi or Ra’ah: The-Lord-My-Shepherd
      1 The LORD is my shepherd;
      I shall not want.
      2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
      He leads me beside the still waters.
      3 He restores my soul;
      He leads me in the paths of righteousness
      For His name’s sake.
      4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil;
      For You are with me;
      Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
      5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
      You anoint my head with oil;
      My cup runs over.
      6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
      All the days of my life;
      And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
      Forever.

      Psalm 23.1–6
    6. Genesis 49.24 shows that Jacob understood the same things:

      24 “But his bow remained in strength,
      And the arms of his hands were made strong
      By the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob
      (From there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel)…

      – Genesis 49.24
    7. Isaiah 40.11 used the imagery of a shepherd to picture the love of the Lord:

      11 He will feed His flock like a shepherd;
      He will gather the lambs with His arm,
      And carry them in His bosom,
      And gently lead those who are with young.

      – Isaiah 40.11
    8. Psalm 80.1–2 also uses this picture:

      1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
      You who lead Joseph like a flock;
      You who dwell between the cherubim, shine forth!
      2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
      Stir up Your strength,
      And come and save us!

      – Psalm 80.1–2
      1. And you already heard Psalm 100.3:

        3 Know that the LORD, He is God;
        It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
        We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

        – Psalm 100.3
        1. He made us, therefore, He is the Shepherd and 
        2. we are the sheep. 
          1. We follow Him. 
          2. We cannot expect Him to follow us. 
  2. We Are Sheep 
    1. As sheep we get ourselves into trouble, 
      1. especially with sin. 
      2. Is there anyone among us who has not sinned? 
        1. We have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
        2. Our sin puts us on the path to hell. 
    2. However, a prophecy in Isaiah 53 
      1. showed something remarkable. 
      2. Do you remember as David sought to persuade Saul 
        1. to let him fight Goliath, 
        2. that David explained how he killed both a lion and a bear 
          1. when they threatened his flock? 
          2. Therefore, Goliath was nothing. 
            1. David was explaining that he was willing to die 
            2. for the sake of his sheep. 
      3. Well, Isaiah 53 shows that the Shepherd die for His sheep.

        6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
        We have turned, every one, to his own way;
        And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

        – Isaiah 53.6
        1. Like the bear or the lion would have tried to put their jaws or paws on David, 
        2. so sin was laid on the Shepherd of our souls, and 
          1. that led to His death. 
          2. However, in doing so He rescued us from eternal death in hell. 
  3. John 10.1–30 | Jesus Our Shepherd

    11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

    – John 10.11
    1. Jesus is the Shepherd of Psalm 23. 
    2. Jesus is Jehovah-Rohi. 
    3. Jesus is the Lord my Shepherd.

      25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

      – 1 Peter 2.25
  4. If you have turned to Him as the Shepherd of your soul, listen to this:

    20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

    – Hebrews 13.20–21

    17 …the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

    – Revelation 7.17
  5. If you have not returned to Him, why not?