God is the Shepherd of Israel.
1 Give ear, O Roeh (Shepherd) of Israel,
you that leads the descendants of Joseph like a flock,
you who is dwells between the cherubim, shine forth.
The Shepherd’s Staff Becomes a Sceptre
In Psalm 23.4 The staff was used by shepherds to poke around in crevices to flush out snakes and scorpions; Jesus forces evil out into the light, His presence causes sin and evil forces to be exposed and destroyed.
Those things that would be harmful to His people are to be exposed and destroyed.
If you have ever witnessed deliverance ministry, you may have seen the battle which occurs when demonic spirits encounter the presence of God.
It creates such a clash, when its possession or rulership of the person is challenged.
Whose rulership are we submitting to?
I remember one particular time in Pattaya when a lady from Hong Kong came for prayer at church.
When she received prayer, it became a battle for deliverance, when a demon manifested itself and named itself as Shiva.
This demonic spirit had no intention of giving up its habitation of this woman without a fight, but God eventually won.
Romans 16.20 says that the God of peace will crush Satan underneath our feet.
The Hebrew letter ‘Lamed’ is pictured in the symbol of a shepherd’s crook, symbolizing the role of Shepherd and King.
So, he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.
A shepherd must have integrity, otherwise they are not fit to lead the flock.
A hireling will run away at the first sign of trouble.
He is a shepherd who has integrity and righteousness in abundance.
In Genesis 48.15 Jacob blesses Joseph
“May Elohim (The Living Word, the Many Powered), in whose presence my grandfather Abraham
and my father Isaac walked,
may Elohim (The Living Word, the Many Powered), who has been my shepherd all my life to this very day,
16 may the Messenger, who has rescued me from all evil,
bless these boys.”
Genesis 49.24 says of Joseph
24 But his bow stayed steady, and his arms remained limber
because of the help of the Mighty One of Jacob (God Elohim, the Living Word, the Many Powered),
because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,
25 because of the El of your father who helps you,
because of the Shaddai (The Powerful Almighty Living Word) who gives you blessings from the heavens above
Ezekiel 34.11-31 (abridged)
11 “‘This is what Adonai (Greatest Above All Things) Yehovih (The Father) says, ”I will search for my sheep myself, and I will look after them.”
12 As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so I will look after my sheep.
13 I will bring them out from the nations, gather them from the countries, and bring them to their own land.
I will take care of them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land.
14 I will feed them in good pasture, and they will graze on the mountains of Israel. They will rest on the good land where they graze, and they will feed on the best pastures in the mountains of Israel.
15 I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares Adonai (Greatest Above All Things) Yehovih (The Father).
16 I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that have strayed away, bandage those that are injured, and strengthen those that are sick. I will destroy those that are fat and strong. I will take care of my sheep fairly.
Here we see a passage packed full of promises to God’s people; it seems to be a reflection of Psalm 23, with the elements of rest, pasture, streams, peace, care and restoration all reiterated to His people.
We see the emphasis on ‘good pastures and streams’ which supplied food, rest and refreshment.
It was a perfect pasture with every need met.
God loves to remind us of His promises and reassure us that He will do what He says!
We can see this fulfilled exactly in Jesus as our Good Shepherd, taking care of His sheep, when He leaves the 99 to go after the one lost sheep.
With care, also comes judgement:
17 “‘As for you, my sheep, this is what Lord Adonai (The Greatest Above All Things), God Yehovih (the Father) says: I will judge disputes between one sheep and another, between rams and male goats.
18 Isn’t it enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you trample the rest of the pasture with your feet?
You drink clean water. Must you muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 Must my sheep eat what your feet have trampled and drink what your feet have muddied?
20 “‘So this is what Lord Adonai (The Greatest Above All Things), God Yehovih (the Father) says to them:
I will judge disputes between the fat sheep and the skinny sheep. 21 You fat sheep push the skinny sheep with your sides and shoulders, and you knock down all the sick sheep with your horns. You have scattered them all over.
22 So I will rescue my sheep, and they will no longer be prey.
I will judge between one sheep and another.
23 Then I will place one shepherd over them, my servant David, and he will take care of them.
He will take care of them and be their shepherd.
24 I, Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), will be their Elohim, and my servant David will be their prince. I, Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), have spoken.
– Hallelujah, it is Jesus who is taking care of His people!
He is the One Shepherd set over His people to feed them, to ensure their safety, so that they will not be afraid.
They will know that God is with them and that they are His!
25 “‘I will promise them peace.
27 Then they will know that I am Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), because I will break off the bars on their yokes and rescue them from the people who made them slaves.
– He will bring us freedom!
28 They will no longer be prey to the nations, and the wild animals will no longer eat them. They will live safely, and no one will frighten them.
29 I will give them a place that is known for its good crops.
They will no longer experience hunger in the land, and they will no longer suffer the insults of other nations.
30 Then they will know that I, Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate) their Elohim (The Living Word, the Many Powered), am with them and that they, the people of Israel, are my people, declares Lord Adonai (The Greatest Above All Things), God Yehovih (the Father)
31 You, my sheep, are the sheep in my pasture. You are mortal, and I am your God Elohim (The Living Word, the Many Powered), declares the Lord Adonai (The Greatest Above All Things), God Yehovih (the Father)”.
Psalm 95.6-7
6 O come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel in front of Yehovah (Messiah Pre-Incarnate), our maker,
7 because he is our God Elohim (The Living Word, the Many Powered)
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock that he leads.
Let’s not forget that as gentiles, we are grafted into the olive tree of Israel and God is forming us into “one new man.”
God’s kingdom, fortunately for us, is not exclusive.
In John 10.16, Jesus tells us that He has other sheep to bring, which are not of this sheepfold (of Israel) and He must bring them also.
Thankfully that includes us gentiles!
God has not forgotten His promise to bless the world through Abraham and through Israel, which He repeats throughout Genesis.
Now, His doors are open wide, through Jesus, the Door!
He cares for both His Jewish and Gentile sheep in His flock.
We are now under one Shepherd in Jesus the Great Shepherd of the sheep, making us into One New Man (Ephesians 2.11-21)
He is the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for His sheep.
For the Lamb in the centre of the throne shall be their Shepherd and shall guide them to the springs of the water of life, and God the Father shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.
How glorious and precious it is to be under the care of our loving God!