THE LORD MY SHEPHERD

INTRODUCTION

For more than 60 centuries [6000+ years], God had shepherd mankind, but man had wandered away from the Creator, Elohim, Himself [Genesis 3:8]. One of the most famous and meaningful chapters in the Bible is Psalm 23. Through centuries, this psalm has brought comfort, courage, and healing to billions of people who were experiencing dark and difficult times.

YAHWEH ROHI

Even though Yahweh Rohi, is not a formal name of GOD, it is a descriptive name that reveals the tenderness and love of our caring Lord. The name Yahweh Rohi first appears in Psalm 23, “The Shepherd Psalm.” This psalm was written by David, the Shepherd King, whose experiences especially qualified him to write about Yahweh Rohi, the Lord, My Shepherd.

THE MEANING OF ROHI

The term rohi comes the Hebrew word ro’eh which means to “feed,” “to tend,” or “to lead to pasture.” The term is frequently used with reference to human shepherds herding their sheep. For example, “Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flock with his brothers” [Genesis 37:2]. And “David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem” [1 Samuel 17:15].

KINGS AND SPIRITUAL LEADERS

The term shepherd is also used figuratively with reference to kings and spiritual leaders God chose to take care of the people. For example, God said to David, “You will shepherd my people” [2 Samuel 5:2]. Speaking of Cyrus, King of Persia, God said, “He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please” [Isaiah 44:28].
The kings and priests of Israel were supposed to take care of their subjects, but they were serving themselves rather than the people [as in the case of Nigeria]. The prophet Ezekiel wrote, “Woe to the shepherds of Israel [Nigeria] who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?” [Ezekiel 34:2]. “You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd.” [Ezek. 34:4-5].

DAY OF CLOUDS AND DARKNESS

“O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock” [Ezekiel 34:9-
10]. “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.” [Ezekiel 34:11-12].
At this point of my message, there are Dark Skies over our country Nigeria, our rulers are the bad shepherds who care for themselves and families only; and have neglected to take care of the poor masses. The judgment of God is coming swiftly on these rulers whom God have entrusted with governance, but have failed to protect and care for the people. They have not fed them; cared for them and healed them. Instead, they have exposed the people to bandits, assassins, kidnappers, hunger, poverty and diseases. God is coming for these hirelings and not shepherds!

WHEN MEN STRAY [2 SAMUEL 16:5-14]

When men fall! Don’t laugh. Learn, because tomorrow, it may be your turn. And the things that tempt people to fall; you and I are not free from that temptation; nor from the weakness that will cause us to stumble and fall. When you laugh at somebody else’s fault; white or black, rich or poor, your enemy or your friend. You are laughing and opening a way for your own demise when you do that. Because to laugh and not learn. To make mockery and not to understand, is to make the same mistake yourself [2 Corinthians 2:6;11-12].

WHEN MEN STRAY

When we go astray and lose our way; when we find ourselves in darkness and gloom; when we feel lonely, worthless and depressed, God comes looking for us. He is the perfect shepherd [John 10:5-15]. In the words of Isaiah, God “tends His flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young” [Isaiah 40:11]. He calls us by name and invites us to come unto Him for security and healing [Matthew 11:28-30].

WHEN GOD IS NOT YOUR SHEPHERD

When God is not your shepherd; you are SELF-SUFFICIENT. You are your BOSS and you don’t need God. You don’t give a hoot about God. You are like the rich fool of Luke chapter 12; who have said: “I have everything, and who is God?” In this situation you will be in want; you cannot lie down in green pastures; you cannot get water, your soul cannot be restored, your path is sin, you must fear evil, God’s rod cannot comfort you, God cannot prepare a table for you and cannot anoint you with oil, your cup cannot run over. Importantly, you cannot dwell in the House of the Lord forever.

LET GOD BE YOUR SHEPHERD

When we follow God as sheep follow their shepherd, we will have everything we need. He gives us food, water, rest, shelter, and contentment – the essentials of life. We don’t worry about what we will eat, drink, or wear tomorrow, because we know that God will provide these things for us. We must learn to distinguish between our “wants” from our “needs” and to be content with what our Shepherd gives us. We become GOD – SUFFICIENT! Our relationship with God is eternal.

THE CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY AS SHEPHERDS

The Christian community [the churches of Christ all over the world] have the responsibility to lead men and women back to God through the gospel, by playing the role of shepherds through their life styles as the Light of the world. If we fail to spread the gospel and win people for God; we shall be held accountable for those souls perishing. We cannot become closed-mouthed; and let the denomination dominate the air – waves and space with fake gospel, because they are hirelings and not shepherds. Let us affect the Nigerian society with godly – living!

CONCLUSION

The Lord is our shepherd. He loves us. He knows our tear we shed even as citizens of Nigeria. He feels our hurts and pains. When we go astray, He goes after us. When we return, He restores our soul. In Him, we find healing and restoration. Even now, as Nigerians we have dark skies over us. At times like these, our Lord is with us. When we sense His presence, our fears disappear. GOD BLESS YOU ALL FOR LISTENING.