Day 120 – Shepherd

Psalm 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) JEHOVAH is my Ra’ah; I will not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me every day of my life; and I will dwell in the house of JEHOVAH Forever.

God’s names:

JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal

Ra’ah – To tend a flock, Herdman, Pastor, Shepherd

Yeshuwa – Jesus

Iesous – Jesus

Pater – Father

Theos – Supreme Divinity

God’s character:

Shepherd

Many pastors are called shepherds because they lead their congregations. Congregations are often called flocks. Pastors feed their congregations with the doctrine of their church. Their doctrine is the law of the church on which the congregants feed and nourish themselves.

David called JEHOVAH his Shepherd. He recognized the staff as the Law from which he fed and nourished his soul daily and the rod as the statutes that kept him in line. David knew he could trust JEHOVAH to lead him along the right path leading to life, even when death looked near. He knew he had nothing to fear because JEHOVAH kept him safe from his enemies and provided everything he needed. David recognized the anointing oil Samuel anointed his head with came from JEHOVAH. His cup, his life, ran over with JEHOVAH’S goodness and mercy. David knew his eternal destination would be in heaven forever.

Most people are familiar with Psalm 23 and can recite it from memory. You find it on the prayer cards at funerals to bring comfort to those who mourn.

As Christians, this psalm does more than bring comfort. It shows us who our Shepherd is: Yeshuwa. Yeshuwa called Himself the Good Shepherd.

John 10:1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 However, he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hears his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he brings out his sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Iesous used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7 Then Iesous said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 Everyone who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 I am the Good Shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 However, a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep and am known by My own. 15 As the Pater knows Me, even so I know the Pater; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one Shepherd.

When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, He became your Shepherd. When you open your Bible, He feeds and nourishes your soul with the meat and milk of the Word.

Hebrews 5:12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of Theos; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 However, solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

However, if you don’t spend time in Yeshuwa’s Word, you won’t know the most basic principles of His love for you. You remain a baby, needing milk. You need to study Yeshuwa’s Word until it becomes your meat, and you become mature in your Christian life. When you do, you will see how Yeshuwa leads you to green pastures, nourishes your soul, and feeds you from His Word.

When life feels overwhelming, His Word leads you through the dark places leading to death and gives you life. When Satan comes against you, you have Yeshuwa’s Word on your lips that causes Satan to flee from you and your enemies to live in peace with you. Your confidence and assurance are heaven where you will live for eternity.

Do you know the peace of Yeshuwa’s presence in your life? Does He lead you to green pastures and nourish you with refreshing water? Do you know safety in His presence? You can. Open His Word today and learn from Him. Accept His love for you, and become one of His treasured sheep, protected and loved by Him. Let Him lead you. Trust Him, and He will bring you eternal comfort when you rest from this life in your eternal destination, heaven.

Let’s pray: Father, thank you for being my Shepherd, for leading me through Your Word which comforts me and guides me through this life. Let Your Word be my guide as I trust You to bring me to my eternal home. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 20 May 2025 by Valerie Routhieaux