Name: JEHOVAH ROHI - Shepherd
Prayer and Meditation:
“The Lord is my Shepherd… for His name sake.” Psalm 23:1a and 3b.
This compound title for the Lord, Jehovah Rohi, reveals His desire for a personal relationship with each of us. As the shepherd cares, protects and provides for his flock he is mindful of the individual sheep and calls each one by name. The sheep, in turn, follow the shepherd in obedience, trusting the shepherd to guard and guide them. Here David uses the personal pronoun “my Shepherd” expressing his personal relationship with the Shepherd, his Lord and Savior.
David was prepared to compose Psalm 23 only after he had recorded Psalm 22 memorializing both the darkness and glory of the cross. It is only through Christ’s suffering and our surrender that we can have a personal relationship with the Lord and like David say: “my Shepherd”. See John 10:14.
The reason the good Shepherd provides, protects and restores is found at the end of verse 3: “for His name sake.” Let us continue in earnest to know Him and study His divine titles honoring the good Shepherd and His desire to have a personal relationship with each of us.
LORD, my Lord, thank you for desiring a personal relationship with me and sending your perfect, sinless Son to pay the price to restore my soul. It is only through His sacrifice that I can call you my Shepherd and rest in You. Lord keep me on the narrow path, with my eyes on You my Shepherd, to live in such a way that exemplifies your love and sacrifice…all for your glory. Amen.