Sheep aren’t exactly known for being smart. They are defenseless against predators. They can get stuck on their backs. They can’t swim, so they can easily sink and drown in water. They can eat grass down to its roots, which destroys whatever pasture they’re in. Sheep have even been known to walk off cliffs. This is why shepherds are so important! The shepherd watches over his sheep constantly and protects them from predators. Sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow him to safety and green pastures. If a sheep falls on its back, the shepherd sets them back up on their feet. Sheep are completely dependent on their shepherd.[1]And this leads us to an amazing truth about God-
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1, ESV
Our God is Jehovah-Raah! He is our Shepherd.[2] While being described as a sheep isn’t extremely flattering for us, it surprisingly describes our relationship with God very well. The Lord our Shepherd always watches over us. The enemy constantly tries to attack us, but we have a Shepherd who protects us. We know God’s voice by reading His Word. When we follow and obey His Word, He leads us to good things. If we stumble in our faith, He is always there to help us back up. We are completely dependent on God, our Shepherd!
God is often called a Shepherd in the Old Testament (Genesis 48:15, Psalm 80:1, Isaiah 40:11). The prophet Ezekiel once quoted what the Lord our Shepherd does for His people-
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I Myself will search for My sheep and will seek them out….and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness… And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country… I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak,” Ezekiel 34:11, 12b, 13a, 16a
God is our Shepherd! He seeks us out and rescues us. He sustains us and strengthens us. He binds our wounds. He cares for His sheep! Jesus also described Himself as a shepherd during His earthly ministry. He declared-
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” John 10:14-18
Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd! He knows us and loves us. And He died as a sacrifice so that both Jews and Gentiles could enter His fold and be saved. Jesus emphasizes here that He chose to lay down His life for His sheep. This idea is emphasized in another verse just a few chapters later in John’s gospel-
“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
Jehovah Raah can also be translated as, “The Lord my Friend”.[3] We are friends of the Lord Jesus Christ! He loves us so dearly and intimately that He chose to lay down His life for us. He desires close, intimate friendship and fellowship with us.
If you feel surrounded by the enemy, remember that you have a Shepherd protecting you. If you feel alone, remember that you have a Friend who loves you so much that He sacrificed His own life to save yours! If you feel lost, remember that your Shepherd is nearby, calling out to you and ready to lead you to green pastures. Depend on God today! Read His Word to hear His voice. Pray to grow closer to Him. And give praise to your Jehovah-Raah-
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even 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.” Psalm 23:1-4
[1] Jack Wellman, “The Relationship Between The Good Shepherd And His Sheep,” Patheos – Christian Crier, published January 10, 2018, accessed May 7, 2021, https://www.patheos.com/blogs/christiancrier/2018/01/10/the-relationship-between-the-good-shepherd-and-his-sheep/.
[2] “The Names of God in the Old Testament,” Blue Letter Bible, accessed May 7, 2021, https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm.
[3] Ibid.
