Jehovah Raah
The Lord My Shepherd
Ezekiel 34:11-12
“This is what the Lord GOD says: I, myself, will search for my sheep and take care of them. As a shepherd takes care of his scattered flock when it is found, I will take care of my sheep. I will save them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day.”
Jehovah is translated as "The Existing One" or "Lord." The chief meaning of Jehovah is derived from the Hebrew word Havah meaning "to be" or "to exist." It also suggests "to become" or specifically "to become known"…this denotes a God who reveals Himself unceasingly. Rô'eh from which Raah derived, means "shepherd" in Hebrew. A shepherd is one who feeds or leads his flock to pasture.
In order to shepherd or order to lead you have to be able to see. Your foresight has to be greater than your line of sight.
In order to shepherd you have to be willing to stand in the times of trouble and guide your sheep, protect your sheep, and show your sheep the way.
An extend translation of this word; shepherd is "friend" or "companion." This indicates the intimacy God desires between Himself and His people. When the two words are combined…Jehovah Raah…it can be translated as "The Lord my Friend."
In this life we all need a friend a true friend a true shepherd.
Because
Life happens
Life is defined as what we do what we go through. Things of natural occurrence just happen. Giving out of gas because you thought you could make it.
Driving out of town and the car tire blows out.
During a storm and tree falls in your back yard.
Unexpected expenses has you behind in household bills.
Divorce is brought up because your spouse no longer wants to go on
Your job decides they don't need you anymore and you're now laid off
They just dropped you from the insurance company and your car wrecks.
Life happens it can and it will blindside you at a moment’s notice. It's not fair it's not right and it's certainly not fun.
I wish I could tell you that those things only happen to unchurched and unsaved folk.
I wish I could tell you that just because you've joined the church and just because you've decided to follow Jesus Christ that life's happenings will no longer affect you.
I wish I could say that just because you faithfully pay tithes and you pray, fast, and give to others that all will be smooth and that you won't be talked about and that you won't be used and that the world will love you back.
I wish I could tell you that!
But
I can't say none of those things but what I can say is what David said in his 23 Psalm, that the Lord is my shepherd and I shall not want.
Oh yeah things are rough right now but I know it's already taken care of. God will provide all my needs.
Things look scary right now but I know that his rod and his staff they comfort me.
Even though I can't see my way through, because he's my shepherd I don't have to. The sheep follow the shepherd they trust him they depend on him the need him and they love him.
Because the Lord is my shepherd I don't have to fight the attacks. Because the lord is my shepherd I don't have to wonder where to take my next step. Because the lord is my shepherd I don't have to fear because in the times of trouble he hides me.
So although life happens and it will continue to happen, just like Joshua and the 2 million Israelites, I can cross over on dry ground. Although I couldn't see across the flood I couldn't see through the storm. I couldn't see what was on the other side. At the right time my God will go before me and lead me into my promised land and while I'm walking over he will stand with me while the world waits to drown me on both sides he will be right there holding the waters back and fighting off the waves. So when life happens Jehovah Raah my friend Jehovah Raah my sight. Jehovah Raah my shepherd will lead me on.
So come on life and give me your best shot. Come on life and talk to the hand! Because in my hand is the Masters hand and I go wherever he leads me and he brought me to it. Surely he will bring me through it.
