Title: Knowing God Rightly (16) (Psalm 23:1)
Content In the past hour, we have been thinking about the name Hannah first called, ‘Jehovah of Armies’. Hannah called God 'the Lord of hosts' and asked for help and was delivered from the contempt of the enemy Peninnah. I thought of an event that could have been saved. In today's text Psalm 23, we can see that another name is being called from the mouth of David, who trusted and relied on God as 'the Lord of hosts'. David trusted and relied on God not only as ‘the Lord of hosts,’ but as the ‘Jehovah the Shepherd’.
(Psalm 23:1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
First, the historical background and meaning of the name ‘Jehovah the Shepherd’
The name ‘Jehovah Roi’ (Jehovah the Shepherd) is first sung in Psalm 23 of David’s song, and after that, God is introduced as ‘Jehovah the Shepherd’ in various places after that. Now, let us learn who God is by examining the various historical backgrounds for which the name “Jehovah Roi” (Jehovah the Shepherd) is called.
1. The appearance of ‘Jehovah the Shepherd’ called by David (Psalm 23)
Perhaps this poem was written by David, reminiscing on how God has fed, guided, and protected him during his tumultuous life. It's possible.
David also looks back on the tumultuous years of being chased away by his deep-rooted enemy Saul, whose life was threatened. As he recalls the countless days of war, the rebellion of his son Absalom, the bitter crimes against Bathsheba and us, and the sorrow behind them, he realizes that God, the Good Shepherd, was always with him and led him in the process. And now I think back to my childhood and youth as a shepherd, tending my father's sheep. Then he realizes that Jehovah God's relationship to himself cannot be more beautiful and adequately expressed than that of a shepherd to his sheep.
Jehovah has guided him so safely and successfully through all the storms and pressures of his life so far, so that he can now look to him with confidence and boldness for the rest of his life and make this confession. Surely goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).
Now, let us look back at David's life and see what God is singing about as 'Jehovah the Shepherd'. David cites three main points and sings the image of a shepherd.1) One who feeds and nourishes (verse 2).
Verse 2 says that he makes them lie down in green pastures, and leads them beside still waters. According to the writings of those who know the ecology of sheep, sheep eat and drink as much as they want from food and water, and when they are full, lie down.