NISAN 12
MY Shepherd
“Hashem is MY Ro'eh (Shepherd) …” (Ps 23:1 OJB, emphasis mine)
‘My’
and ‘mine’ are words of possession, of ownership. When I make a
declaration of this nature (my husband, my child, my home,
and my Elohim), it reveals that I have chosen to identify with that
particular subject, in this case, it is our Elohim. I have chosen Adonai
to be my Elohim, and I have chosen to cleave to Him and His ways.
Here in Wyoming, much of the land is owned by the government (Bureau of Land Management, National Forest Service, as well as state agencies), and both cattle and sheep ranchers will lease sections of land to pasture and graze their livestock. When I first arrived in the state of Wyoming (1973), it was not unusual to see bands of sheep numbering in the thousands, with several sheep-herders (and their dogs) tending to them. It was the responsibility of these sheep-herders to watch over the sheep, protect them, care for them, and diligently provide adequate pastures and water for them. And this was a full time, 24/7 job.
There is, however, much more stated here. The Hebrew word that is translated as ‘shepherd’ is the word râ‛âh (Strong’s H7462). According to Jeff Benner, the Ancient Hebrew symbols for the word râ‛âh imply a "man who watches", such as a shepherd closely watching over his flock.[1] Is this not an accurate picture of our Abba Father! Our Creator is the one who ‘watches over us’, as we are "His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Ps 100:3).
When I choose to make the statement “Adonai is my Shepherd”, I am recognizing and accepting His care for me, a sheep. And I am placing my complete trust in Him, knowing that He will never leave me, or abandon me (Deu 4:31; Heb 13:5). AMEIN!
“I am the Good
Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me.” (John
10:14 TLV)
©2022
[1]
Ancient Hebrew Lexicon of the Bible; ©2006 Ancient Hebrew Research Center;
ISBN: 1589397762 Author: Jeff Benner
No comments:
Post a Comment