Last week we talked about Yahweh Tsuri, The Lord is my Rock.
We talked about how a rock can symbolize permanence, being unmoving, protection, and enduring faithfulness. A rock will not sway with the wind or shift when everything around us does.
When we equate God to being our rock, does this truth affect your view of God?
I think in my life and in my own experiences I have seen how God is my rock. I have had some very low points in my life when life was falling apart. It was at that time that I realized how steadfast God was. I had placed all my hopes, dreams, and plans in a person instead of in God, and that person was not meant to carry that. I had hit rock bottom, and that’s when I found out that God was that rock.
I have a print hanging in my home that was done by a couple of artists who would go to the church I grew up in and would paint while the preacher gave his message. In the end, there was this huge painting that used to hang in the auditorium. They had come for several years, and their paintings surrounded the room. One year, they had the painting made into prints for people to buy. My parents got me one, and it hangs in my home.
Now, I wasn’t there for the painting of this piece, and I don’t remember what the actual message was that went along with it, but it’s a picture of a person hiding in the cleft of a rock. I walk by this picture daily. Some days I forget that it is there, but there are days when it catches my eye and reminds me that God is that rock and he is a place of refuge, a place where I can hide and rest in him.
What does it mean to you to hide yourself in the cleft of the rock or to take refuge in him?
There are times when I wish this was a physical hiding, but to me it’s just taking time to read scripture, to slow down and take time to just let the world fall away, and to allow God into those places where you need rest, healing, and peace.
This past week was another incredibly busy week. I am looking forward to a slow-down week; I need a slow-down week, and I pray one is on the horizon.
The same God who is this unmovable rock is also a warm and caring shepherd.
This week we will be studying the name Yahweh Roeh. The Lord is my Shepherd. I have to admit, this is one of my favorite names of God for the imagery alone.
Our key scripture is Psalm 23:1-3
Yahweh is my Roeh. I am never in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside peaceful waters. He renews my soul. He guides me along the paths of righteousness for the sake of his name.
My dad tells a story of a little girl in Sunday school who was reciting her memory verse, and she said, “The Lord is my Shepherd; that’s all I want.” I think that little girl had it right.
“Roeh” means to shepherd, tend, feed, or pasture. The name is also associated with companion, feed, make friendship with, herdsman, and pastor.
What does the name “Roeh,” or “shepherd,” mean to you?
Personally, it means that he is guiding me, leading me, and taking care of me.
We have already seen mention in scripture of the occupation of shepherding in relation to Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David. In biblical times, wealth was associated with how much livestock a person owned. We also saw how Moses went from herding sheep to herding people. His role of shepherd was the same; just the manner of animal was different. The role of leading was just as important.
In Genesis 48:15 Jacob referred to God as his shepherd when he was blessing Joseph.
“Elohim, who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day.”
Again God is referred to as a shepherd in Hosea 4:16
“The people of Israel are as stubborn as a bull. How can Yahweh feed them like lambs in an open pasture?”
I feel as though I am that stubborn bull at times; ok, more than at times, more like all the time.
Isaiah 40:11
“Like a shepherd, he takes care of his flock. He gathers the lambs in his arms. He carries them in his arms. He gently helps the sheep and their lambs.”
Micah 7:14
“With your shepherds’ staff, take care of your people, the sheep that belong to you. They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures.”
Psalm 28:9
“Save your people, and bless those who belong to you. Be their Roeh, and carry them forever.”
This picture of God carrying us in his arms, gently leading us, brings comfort to me.
To shepherd also means to be a teacher or a ruler.
2 Samuel 5:2
“Even in the past, when Saul ruled us, you were the one who led Israel in battle. Yahweh has said to you, “You will be the shepherd of my people, Israel, the leader of Israel.”
Jeremiah 3:15
I will give you shepherds after my own heart. They will be shepherds who feed you with knowledge and insight.
A shepherd is one who leads, feeds, and protects from predators; he guides them to water, he searches for the one that wandered away, and he resides with his sheep. At night when he herds them into the corral, he lies in the doorway as the gatekeeper to protect them and to keep them from wandering. A shepherd’s character is patient, vigilant, gently firm, and of sacrificial courage. He is an ideal leader.
Ezekiel 34:11-12 says, “This is what Adonay Yahweh says: I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them. As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep. I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day from every place where they have been scattered.”
I love that, “I will rescue them on a cloudy and gloomy day.” Have you had one of those days and felt God’s rescue?
This imagery of God as our shepherd, as the one who feeds us, guides us to water, protects us from our enemies, and rescues us when we go astray; how does this change how you see God?
I have been on this Christian walk for a long time now. This image of God as my Shepherd is one that brings me peace. It takes God off this unattainable shelf and places him beside me as if I were walking along beside him. He is no longer this unapproachable massive being but someone who I can rest in, be with, and confide in. He is still holy, but he is also near and personal.
One of my favorite verses, and I have a lot, is found in John 10:27. It says, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”
There’s a reel on Facebook I saw a while back that represents this well. Sheep won’t just follow anyone’s voice. They know the voice of their shepherd, of the one they follow. So two herds could be side by side, and one shepherd could call out, and his sheep would follow him. They know him, and they know his voice. They know he is the one who leads them to green pastures, guides them to safe water, and protects them from the enemy. They know his voice.
When you pray this week, use the name Yahweh Roeh. When you do, you are praying to the one who leads you, the one that watches over you day and night, the one who lies down in the gateway to protect you, and the one who leaves the 99 to find you. He knows you by name. You aren’t just another person in the crowd. You are his, and he loves you.
Psalm 100:3 says, “Realize that Yahweh alone is Elohim. He made us, and we are his. We are his people and the sheep in his care.”
We are the sheep. He is the shepherd. Do you know the voice of the shepherd? Are you listening to him, or do you allow your ears to hear outside voices and temptations that pull you away? Are you spending time with Roeh so that you know his voice?
The shepherd is still speaking. The question isn’t whether He is calling, but are we close enough to recognize His voice?
Have a great day with Jesus.
