13 May. Continuing our study of God....who is He anyway? Shepherd. Taking the lead in walking with animals isn't an easy thing to do. Shepherding sheep is about more than walking. It's about sleeping in their space, and taking them to proper locations for food and drink. It's about protecting them from wolves and other predators. It's a gig that includes healing or fixing their legs when they are damaged, and dealing with new births when lambs are first on the scene.
To be a shepherd means to care, and to give up your life for the sheep.
Adonai Roi. The Lord is my shepherd. Probably the most known psalm of King David. Psalm 23. It's recited at every Jewish funeral. What does it mean that He's my Shepherd?
It means He guides me. He looks out for me. And He has been doing so for a long time. He did not begin this ministry of care for me last year, or 40 years ago, but when I was born, and even before. He has always been my shepherd.
Yeshua is the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13.20), that's His gig, His ministry. He tends to us, feeds us, cautions us, guides us...in all circumstances of life. No wonder when there are others, whom we call pastors (another English translation of the word for Shepherd) who are caring more for themselves than for the sheep, the Almighty gets really upset. Note what Jeremiah the prophet said, "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD...You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD." (Then to fix things up, He continues) "I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them, and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD." (Jer. 23.1-4)
Even when false or fake pastors come in, God will still be involved and both judge them and bring in others to guide us. What love! What care! Thanks be to God for His watchcare over you. And those you love.
"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Yeshua our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Messiah Yeshua, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Heb. 13.20-21)
To be a shepherd means to care, and to give up your life for the sheep.
Adonai Roi. The Lord is my shepherd. Probably the most known psalm of King David. Psalm 23. It's recited at every Jewish funeral. What does it mean that He's my Shepherd?
It means He guides me. He looks out for me. And He has been doing so for a long time. He did not begin this ministry of care for me last year, or 40 years ago, but when I was born, and even before. He has always been my shepherd.
Yeshua is the Great Shepherd of the sheep (Heb. 13.20), that's His gig, His ministry. He tends to us, feeds us, cautions us, guides us...in all circumstances of life. No wonder when there are others, whom we call pastors (another English translation of the word for Shepherd) who are caring more for themselves than for the sheep, the Almighty gets really upset. Note what Jeremiah the prophet said, "Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of My pasture!” declares the LORD...You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not attended to them; behold, I am about to attend to you for the evil of your deeds,” declares the LORD." (Then to fix things up, He continues) "I shall also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them, and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD." (Jer. 23.1-4)
Even when false or fake pastors come in, God will still be involved and both judge them and bring in others to guide us. What love! What care! Thanks be to God for His watchcare over you. And those you love.
"Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Yeshua our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Messiah Yeshua, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Heb. 13.20-21)
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