06 Feb An Introduction to God ( The Names of God) Prt. 12

Jehovah Rohi Shepherd Overview

In this powerful sermon on ‘Jehovah Rohi’ (The Lord Our Shepherd), Pastor explores the intimate relationship God desires with His people through understanding His names and character. Moving beyond sterile religious concepts, this message reveals how knowing God’s names brings us into deeper intimacy with Him, much like understanding our spouse deepens marriage. The sermon examines the Hebrew name ‘Jehovah Rohi’ meaning ‘The Lord Our Shepherd,’ contrasting true shepherding with false leadership in both spiritual and secular contexts. Pastor emphasizes that real shepherds live with their sheep, providing complete care and protection, just as Jesus does for His followers. The message connects this shepherding concept to Psalm 23, showing how God cares for us practically and spiritually. Drawing from biblical examples of Joseph and David, the sermon illustrates authentic shepherding versus hireling mentality. Pastor warns against false teachers who tell people only what they want to hear, instead calling for shepherds who feed God’s people with knowledge and understanding. The message concludes by highlighting that despite world corruption and coming difficulties, believers can have confidence because Jesus has overcome the world and serves as our faithful companion and friend.

Jehovah Rohi Shepherd Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction to God vs Names of God: Moving from sterile religious concepts to intimate relationship with God
• 3:30 – Marriage Analogy for Knowing God: Understanding deepens relationship, preventing selfish spiritual living
• 7:15 – Jehovah Rohi – The Lord Our Shepherd: Exploring the Hebrew meaning and root word ‘Roi’ meaning to shepherd
• 12:00 – Biblical Examples of Shepherding: Joseph feeding flocks and David’s calling as shepherd of Israel
• 18:45 – False Shepherds vs True Shepherds: Contrasting hirelings with authentic shepherds in spiritual and secular leadership
• 25:30 – Shepherds According to God’s Heart: Jeremiah’s prophecy about true teachers who feed with knowledge and understanding
• 32:15 – End Times Preparation Through Knowing God: Building faith through understanding God’s character amid world corruption
• 38:00 – God as Companion and Friend: The intimate friendship aspect of the shepherd-sheep relationship

Scripture References

Psalm 23:1, Genesis 37:2, Genesis 47:3-4, 2 Samuel 5:1-2, Jeremiah 3:15, John 6:67-68, Matthew 24:6-8

Key Takeaways

• Knowing God’s names brings us into intimate relationship rather than sterile religion. Each name reveals His character and how He wants us to know Him.
• Like understanding your spouse deepens marriage, understanding God prevents selfish spiritual living and draws us into His heart.
• True shepherds live with their sheep and give their lives for them, just as Jesus does for His followers with complete care and protection.
• False shepherds and hirelings serve themselves, while true shepherds according to God’s heart feed people with knowledge and understanding.
• In these last days, we need teachers who speak truth rather than what people’s itching ears want to hear for convenience.
• Despite world corruption and coming difficulties, we can have confidence because Jesus has overcome the world as our faithful shepherd.
• God desires to be our closest companion and friend, greeting us with joy like a faithful pet welcoming their owner home.

Jehovah Rohi Shepherd Notes

This profound exploration of Jehovah Rohi reveals the intimate nature of God’s relationship with His people through the beautiful imagery of shepherding. Pastor begins by distinguishing between sterile religious knowledge of God’s names versus the life-transforming intimacy that comes from truly understanding who God is. Using the analogy of marriage, he explains how understanding your spouse prevents selfish living and creates deeper relationship – the same principle applies to our walk with God.The Hebrew name ‘Jehovah Rohi’ literally means ‘The Lord Our Shepherd,’ with the root word ‘Roi’ meaning to feed, tend, and care for domestic animals. This reveals God’s comprehensive care for His people in both practical and spiritual ways. Unlike modern Western sheep farming where animals are simply contained and fed, biblical shepherding involved living with the flock, knowing each sheep individually, and being willing to die protecting them.Scripture provides powerful examples of this shepherding concept. Joseph’s early life caring for his father’s flocks demonstrates the feeding aspect, while David’s calling as shepherd over Israel shows the leadership dimension. When Pharaoh welcomed Joseph’s family to Egypt, their identity as shepherds secured them the best land in Goshen, illustrating how God honors faithful shepherding.The message takes a sobering turn addressing false shepherds versus true shepherds. Drawing parallels between spiritual and secular leadership, Pastor notes how government ministers were originally meant to shepherd people but now often serve themselves. This corruption extends to religious contexts where false teachers tell people what they want to hear rather than truth that produces spiritual growth.Jeremiah 3:15 promises shepherds according to God’s heart who feed people with knowledge and understanding. These authentic leaders don’t avoid difficult truths but present them with love and wisdom. Jesus himself exemplified this when 5,000 followers left after His hard teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood, yet He continued speaking truth.The sermon addresses end-times preparation, explaining that world corruption will increase like rust in metal – it cannot be stopped, only replaced with something better. God reveals coming difficulties not to create fear but to prepare His people with knowledge and understanding. The key to standing strong in dark times is knowing who God is for us, which builds unshakeable faith.Finally, the beautiful translation of ‘Roi’ as companion and friend captures the heart of God toward His people. Like a faithful pet who greets their owner with overwhelming joy, God desires intimate friendship with His followers. This companion aspect of shepherding transforms our understanding from distant deity to loving friend who walks closely beside us through every circumstance of life.

Frequently Asked Questions