The Divine Names. Jehovah Raah--The LORD is my Shepherd. Pt. 2

Good evening.

We are continuing to look at this heartwarming 23rd Psalm of David, that is generally used as a funeral text. While I do see that as one application, I think what God intends with this Psalm is much broader, and we will see this as we make our way through the remaining verses.

Jehovah our Shepherd provides rest &

refreshment for world weary sheep.

Psalm 23:2 ²    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

We have set before us a peaceful country scene set far away from the world’s chaos and evil. The word “maketh” is a word that means Jehovah causes His sheep to lie down and rest with complete security and safety. Jehovah Raah provides, protects and guides us.  He is the unfailing companion of His sheep. He feeds His sheep and gives them time to reflect upon what He has fed them.

“Green pastures” are fields of lush, tender, nourishing  grasses that contain all the vital nourishment, minerals that we need. This is where Jehovah our Shepherd, regularly brings His sheep to feed and rest. In contrast the grass that is bleached by sunlight has lost most of its natural nutrients.

The word “leadeth” means Jehovah leads us at the right pace that is best for us, in an orderly manner and with great care. It is from a beautiful Hebrew word that was used of those who led caravans across the desert. 

They had to go at a pace that both the elderly and the babes could endure. They had to ensure there were places to stop for shade and rest along the way. They had to make sure that the caravan was protected from thieves. This is how our wonderful Shepherd leads His sheep. Carefully, compassionately, and with all care.

Now I am positive that you already figured out that this Psalm is not talking about the people of God feasting on fresh, green grasses, since we are not ruminant creatures. 

The nourishment David is referring to is the food Jehovah provides for our souls, that nourishes us just like grass feeds sheep.

Jehovah our Shepherd feeds His sheep with

the wonderful word of God.

Matthew 4:3-4 ³  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. ⁴  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 

Teaching from the lips of Jesus Christ from Matthew's gospel, tells us that the divinely inspired scriptures are the food we need for our souls.

WE HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.....

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

"Hearing" is from a word that means to really listen, to be attentive with the implication of acting upon what you are hearing.

WE READ THE WORD OF GOD.......

Matthew 12:1-5 At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. ²  But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. ³  But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; ⁴  How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? ⁵  Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Jesus often confronted His religious detractors by pointing them to the word of God, instead of the traditions of men that they preferred. He challenged them by asking "Have you not read???" It was incredulous to think that these learned men did not know what the word of God said, even though they presumed to speak for God when they instructed the Jews in their man made views. 


WE STUDY THE WORD OF GOD.....

2 Timothy 2:15   Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

The word "study" is a command and it means to dig into the subject, to diligently and earnestly seek light from God's word. It means making this the priority of our day, each and every day. Doing this gains the approval of God and is used to make us more like Christ. 

Yes, it requires work. The word "workman" is often used referring to day laborers who toil with their hands and who work long hours to get the job done. True study of the scripture is work, but it is also a joyful activity, an exhausting but richly rewarding occupation for the child of God to undertake.

WE MEMORIZE THE WORD OF GOD....

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. 

Psalm 119:16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Memorization has always been hard for my wife and me, but we can do it. We just have to be persistent and keep trying until it sticks in our minds. 

Parents, I strongly encourage you to teach your children to memorize scripture at a young age. It is vitally important to keep God's truth in their young, impressionable minds, so that they grow up to be sensitive to the things of God rather than the things of the world. 

WE MEDITATE UPON THE WORD OF GOD.....

Psalm 119:48  My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

To meditate upon Bible truth means to think about what you read; to seek to see what God is saying in the text; to seek to understand how this may be meant to apply to your own life; and to consider His truth from different vantage points.

Craving God’s word comes from walking in the light of the Shepherd’s truth. 

Psalms 119:130-131 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.  I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. 

The word of God enters into our hearts bringing light and understanding so that we may live our lives to honor Jehovah. 

The word “panted” literally means to be gasping with an open mouth in order to fill your lungs with air, such as after prolonged physical exertion; or an opened, dry mouth that is parched with thirst. 

“Longing” intently for the precepts of God is associated with the quickening righteousness of God. To put it another way, we have this desire or intense longing only when we are born again and only when we diligently seek the Lord in His word. 

"Still waters" are fresh shallow streams that refresh the sheep when they drink of it. The still waters for the sheep in the green pastures of Jehovah reminds us how sheep often lay down in repose, to chew their cuds. 

The believer is fed the good word of God in Church by faithful pastors who preach sound doctrine; by hearing it; by reading it and the intake of the word of God fills & nourishes our souls. 

We need to be like the sheep and digest what we have taken in. We need to seek the still waters where we can quietly and safely think about the truth we have taken in and seek the Lord's guidance and teaching. This would be the act of memorizing and meditating upon the word of God. 

POINTS TO PONDER.......

• Are we allowing our Great Shepherd to lead us into the green pastures of His wonderful word?

• Are we pausing to digest the truth we are taking in by seeking understanding and guidance from Jehovah?

• Are we happily resting in what Jehovah says in His word?

I need quiet time alone with God and His word. I need to stop by the still waters and allow His word to penetrate my heart and shape my thinking. I desire to be longing for His word as a man who is desperately thirsty. I suspect that I am not alone in craving these things in my life.

On this note, I will leave you to digest what you have read this evening and we will move to verse 3 in the next post.

Bob