Day 88: His Name Is Called Yahweh Roeh, The Lord Is My Shepherd
Read: Psalm 23
To those of us 21st century city-dwellers, the figure of the shepherd
and a flock of sheep may not be particularly meaningful nor inspiring,
yet I do not believe that we have not had many generations of time pass
by in which mankind has been more like a flock of sheep needing a
shepherd, going this way one moment and that way the next without any
rhyme or reason being attached somewhere. When you think of the troubles
of our world and the problems that we individually, collectively,
deliberately, wantonly, with no thought of consequence, lunge head long
into, then truly we are as a flock of sheep, going astray, our own way
which needs the Shepherd of shepherds.
The trouble is for us who count themselves city dwellers or suburbanites, we'll have issues relating to the analogy of a shepherd, any shepherd especially
one who call's themselves Yahweh Roeh and takes it further when they
figure out the translation as 'The Lord is My Shepherd'! And I
certainly will not relate myself as any fool sheep. I have seen
photographs and movies and I can safely tell you that, contrary to
previous reports, there is definitely no physical similarities
between me and any foolish sheep. Yet, nearly 60 times the Bible refers
to the idea of a shepherd and his sheep. It is a figure of speech woven
throughout the Bible. So, why should it remain so relevant today?
This passage takes hold of us because it is a positive, faith-filled, hope-filled approach to living life. It is constructive, optimistic and confident, and it is
full of faith. Yahweh Roeh, The Shepherd is the ultimate care giver. He
knows and loves all those who are under His care. The Shepherd knows
all of life's terrain - the hills and valleys and the peaks, the rocks
the streams and green meadows where we may be fed, refreshed. Let
me hold up one of the phrases so that we may all look beneath the words
at the meaning that David intended. "I shall not want" Mankind has long
sought for security down through the ages. A child stands close to his
mother and finds in her security.
All through life we strive for security in so many different ways. We guard our health; we save for old age; we take out insurance. We long for rock solid
security, but this passage, in no uncertain terms, emphasizes that God
is our real security. "The Lord is my shepherd," therefore "I shall not
want." How true, how very true that is. Even before we began to exist,
God was aware of our needs and provided for them. He knew we would be
hungry, so he provided the seasons of the year the productivity of the
soil to make possible the growth of food. He knew we'd die one day. He
wanted to care for us then too. So, one day, in love, He died for us to
keep us forever safe.
Let Us Pray: Today I am asking you to sit
back in the comfort or discomfort you find yourself in at this very
moment to personalize Psalm 23:1 Yahweh Roeh "The Lord is my shepherd, I
shall not want ..... because (then follow with the final verses 2 - 6).
http://www.youtube.com/
Read: Psalm 23
To those of us 21st century city-dwellers, the figure of the shepherd and a flock of sheep may not be particularly meaningful nor inspiring, yet I do not believe that we have not had many generations of time pass by in which mankind has been more like a flock of sheep needing a shepherd, going this way one moment and that way the next without any rhyme or reason being attached somewhere. When you think of the troubles of our world and the problems that we individually, collectively, deliberately, wantonly, with no thought of consequence, lunge head long into, then truly we are as a flock of sheep, going astray, our own way which needs the Shepherd of shepherds.
The trouble is for us who count themselves city dwellers or suburbanites, we'll have issues relating to the analogy of a shepherd, any shepherd especially one who call's themselves Yahweh Roeh and takes it further when they figure out the translation as 'The Lord is My Shepherd'! And I certainly will not relate myself as any fool sheep. I have seen photographs and movies and I can safely tell you that, contrary to previous reports, there is definitely no physical similarities between me and any foolish sheep. Yet, nearly 60 times the Bible refers to the idea of a shepherd and his sheep. It is a figure of speech woven throughout the Bible. So, why should it remain so relevant today?
This passage takes hold of us because it is a positive, faith-filled, hope-filled approach to living life. It is constructive, optimistic and confident, and it is full of faith. Yahweh Roeh, The Shepherd is the ultimate care giver. He knows and loves all those who are under His care. The Shepherd knows all of life's terrain - the hills and valleys and the peaks, the rocks the streams and green meadows where we may be fed, refreshed. Let me hold up one of the phrases so that we may all look beneath the words at the meaning that David intended. "I shall not want" Mankind has long sought for security down through the ages. A child stands close to his mother and finds in her security.
All through life we strive for security in so many different ways. We guard our health; we save for old age; we take out insurance. We long for rock solid security, but this passage, in no uncertain terms, emphasizes that God is our real security. "The Lord is my shepherd," therefore "I shall not want." How true, how very true that is. Even before we began to exist, God was aware of our needs and provided for them. He knew we would be hungry, so he provided the seasons of the year the productivity of the soil to make possible the growth of food. He knew we'd die one day. He wanted to care for us then too. So, one day, in love, He died for us to keep us forever safe.
Let Us Pray: Today I am asking you to sit back in the comfort or discomfort you find yourself in at this very moment to personalize Psalm 23:1 Yahweh Roeh "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want ..... because (then follow with the final verses 2 - 6).
http://www.youtube.com/
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