Jehovah Roi The Lord is My Shepherd (19th Feb 2012)

 

Scripture Reading: Ezekiel 34:11~16

11. " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.

12. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

13. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.

14. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

15. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.

16. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.

 

 

Sermon: Jehovah Roi The Lord is My Shepherd

When a Korean business man took a taxi to go to JFK airport, he said to the driver, "Let's go. Hurry, Hurry-up." So He drove very fast! the Korean man was strange to think, this taxi was going to a wrong direction. So the man asked the driver "where are you going now?" He answered "you were saying only "hurry up!" So I am driving very hurry and fast to go anywhere. You didn't give me any destination".

It seems to me the story is very similar to our lives.

Where is our destination of life? Before you came here in Korea, you had an aim "earning money". For this, you could stop at nothing to attain your object. You could learn Korean language, or receive helps from your friends and families. After your coming here, how about your life? You could do the best for getting much better salaries and working circumstance. Now what about this life? Some who have to return their home soon are thinking for future in Philippines. What can we have to do? What is the best to settle down for supporting my families? and so forth. Till now some of us are worrying and thinking deeper and deeper with future fear. This is real to us. We are living passing over one hill by one hill, in front of us. This means we have no real aims, only having the life of the moment.

It looks like the sheep. Have you seen a flock of sheep? When I lived in Britain, I could see often a flock of sheep in countryside. When they crossed over streets, they just followed the bottom of their front sheep. They could not see larger view or the next sight. They saw only the front. Why are they living so? They can not help it! They are weak and fragile sheep. Why we are living so? We are human. We are nothing to do.

Then, I would like to share our unsolved problems by ourselves and the grace from our Almighty and Protector God.

Firstly, our serious problems are fear and disorientation.

Sheep is one of the most coward animals. In fact, they do not hold out anything. Most animals got their own protection; For instance, chameleons got protective colour using colours of trees or grounds; Bees got poison stings against their enemies. But sheep do not have any protection for themselves. So they are for fear of their enemies or dangers. In the respect, the saying of Isaiah (53:6) "We all, like sheep" is right. Yes! We have a lot of problems. But in there the core is fear!

Because we have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death seen as Psalm 23. We are fearful all the time by dangers and hardship without any notice. Are you struggling about your destiny? First of all, do not deny your life and accept the fact we are weak and fragile existence like the sheep. We are easy to lose our way. We need a good leader for us.

Secondly, therefore we have to meet a good shepherd in our lives.

According to today text, Ezekiel 34, the Israelites met bad shepherds and so were occupied and exploited by them. The Israelites were in dangers and sufferings not to break through it. "Wrong shepherds leading them"! Definitely they were in valley of dark without any directions. What is the character of sheep? If they fall a deep valley or puddle, they can not get out of from there by themselves. They could cry out or tremble. Also they could adapt themselves to the dark with fear and sufferings. Or they could attack each other for surviving. That is to say, if they meet wrong shepherds, they lost their lives and future. There is no way to be saved.

Therefore, God, their good shepherd said to them "I myself will search for my sheep and look after them."

"Jehovah Roi" in Hebrew means "The Lord tends me". The root of Jehovah, "Yahweh" comes from "havah" which means "to exist". Specially it extends to mean "become", "become known" and "God reveals by themselves all the times."

Based on these meanings, the shepherd of today text is a person who keeps and leads his sheep to good pastures. If we think of those meanings, we can know that Jehovah Roi, the shepherd of this text means "The Lord is my friend and shepherd".

Yes! we have to meet Jehovah Roi, the Lord is my shepherd. only he leads us in the way of life.

Thirdly, God, the good shepherd is clearly needed to our lives.

There was a board in front gate of ancient Rome University written as "After that, what?". There is a story. A poor student asked for a help to a old noble lady who supported many students for scholarship. She asked back to him if she gave him scholarship, what could he do? He answered to study hard. She asked him again "After that?". He answered her "after graduation, I will work for the law, to be a lawyer." "After that?" " I will work for the poor or the sufferings". "After that?" “I will collect money by business. I will support many people like you." "After that?" "I had my children and then raise up them as good Rome citizens." ”After that?" "When I become old, I will found a university for cultivating men of talent." "After that?" He hesitated to say, then "I will be dead.". "After that?" He had no any answers. The old noble lady said to him " I do not want to invest my money to a person who does not know where the life is going. If you solve the issue, I will help you." "Where can I get the answer?" She said to him " Reading bible or having a conversation with Christinaus(Christians)". Among them, you could find it."

I want to ask you "where are you going after your death?"

True shepherd looks after the sheep from the birth to the death. He always keeps his eye on his the sheep. Whether the sheep don't know his protection or not, he never leaves from them. Who is the good shepherd leading us from the beginning of this world to now, and after the end of world? He is the very my shepherd my Lord, Jehovah Roi!

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

Why did Jesus Christ lay down his life for us? It is for saving us to be children of God again getting out of the power of death. only Jesus Christ' sacrifice can save us from all the sufferings and all the fears. In this world, there are so many people or gods saying to us; "I am a good shepherd." But they all are wrong shepherds to make us fall down the darkness in danger. They tempt us with irresistible ways to the death. However, Jesus Christ, our Lord calls us now with the sacrifice of his life and victory from the death. The good shepherd calls us now for saving our lives. Let us Read verse 16.

"I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice."

Where are you going with whom? Now who or what do you lead? Do not leave from him. Be with the good shepherd, Jehovah Roi! He is so good to us. He really loves us. He truly protects us. Even though he is not seen, we can experience his existence and protection being with him. The sheep for a survival know how to follow their good shepherd.

Are you confident about your life? You do not need him! But you have to know we are humble and wise in front of God. We need him, We want Jehovah Roi, our good shepherd of our lives. Trusting in him to follow is the blessing of God. Now I hope all of us follow our good shepherd after this and then always get victories and peace in our lives.

Let's pray! Our Lord, Jehovah Roi! Thanks for giving us this. You become a good shepherd, rescue us from all the place of could and the dark, tend us in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. With our faith, we rely on you. By your grace, please become our shepherd and be with us. In Jesus name we pray Amen.