Confident Faith in Yahweh-Rohi
Subject: The Lord our Shephard
Scripture: Psalm 23 NIV
Decoration
Purchase grass sod or artificial turf and cut to size. Place in cookie sheet trays. Use the grass trays as centerpieces and embellish the grass with silk flower buds. This decoration inspiration is to resemble the “green pastures” in the Psalm 23 scripture.
Stretch Beaded Bracelets
Make a stretch beaded bracelet in give to someone who is homebound. There are many instructional sites on YouTube. You will need acrylic beads in the following colors. White-Shepherd, Green- Pastures, Blue-waters, Clear-soul, Black-valley of death, Brown- your staff, Orange-oil, Purple-goodness and mercy, gold/silver bead spacers to complete the bracelet to size.
Include the words of Psalm 23 with the bracelet with the thought that as they wear the bracelet, they would be reminded that the Lord is their shepherd.
Scripture Bible Study or Book Club resource
Purchase the book “Traveling Light” by Max Lucado. The book is centered around the comforting, uplifting words of Psalm 23. It is written to give encouragement and the tools needed to release our burdens. The book includes a study guide for each chapter that makes it a perfect Bible study or personal growth resource.
Outreach Project Activity
Purchase coloring books from Amazon.com, Color My World Press, Fantastic Images: Psalm 23 “God is my Shepherd” Coloring Book. https://a.co/d/0NUU97d
Distribute the Adult Coloring books with markers or coloring pencils. Have the women’s group color pages and distribute the finished artwork to patients in nursing homes, clients in a shelter or decorate a bulletin board with the colored artwork and post Psalm 23 as the center image on the bulletin board.
Worship Program Outline
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship Responsive Reading
Print a modern version of Psalm 23 and make it into a responsive reading. The following is from The Message.
Leader: God, my shepherd!
People: I don’t need a thing.
Leader: You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
People: True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Leader: Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
People: I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Leader: Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
People: You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
Leader: You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
People: Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
Leader: I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
Worship Lyric Video to Psalm 23 Scripture
Phil Wickham – Psalm 23 (Official Lyric Video) ft. Tiffany Hudson (youtube.com)
Confident Faith in the Names of God: Yahweh-Rohi
In Hebrew Yahweh Rohi means “The Lord is My Shepherd.” Yahweh is often translated as “the Lord” and Rohi means “my shepherd.” Therefore, it is understood as “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
David was a shepherd before he became king. Before he ruled and led his kingdom, David led his sheep. What a perfect analogy to equate the Lord as his shepherd and himself as a sheep. He used his experience as a shepherd to relate to the Lord and to create a deeper relationship with the Lord. In Psalm 23, David uses the metaphor of a shepherd to represent the Lord. The shepherd leads His sheep, and the sheep follows the shepherd.
- David writes in the psalm that God’s divine duty as our Shepard is to lead us.
- He makes us lie down in green pastures. Here we can partake in spiritual food.
- He leads us beside quiet waters. Here we can stop for spiritual rest.
- He restores our soul. In this moment, He provides us with spiritual peace and comfort.
- He guides us in paths of righteousness. His utilizes His spiritual guidance and divine direction to exhort us toward righteous living.
What a beautiful illustration of Christ as our Shepherd. We have so much to gain if we, as His sheep, allow Christ to lead us.
- David also writes that the Lord’s role as our Shepherd is to be present, to comfort, to protect and love His sheep.
- He is present with us. There is no need to be fearful in the valley.
- He comforts His rod and staff are His divine protection.
- He protects He anoints His sheep and consecrates them as His own.
- He follows His goodness and love pursue us our entire life.
Our Shepherd is calling us to follow His lead so we can dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He is lovingly enticing His sheep to stay close to Him.
Our Divine shepherd can’t lead if there are no sheep for Him to guide. David’s psalm is filled with many possibilities and opportunities. Do you need a divine Shepherd? Are you willing to be His sheep and join His flock? His rod and staff will comfort and protect you. His oil will bless you and His goodness and love will never end.
Closing Song
The Salvation Army Song Book, #645 He Leadeth Me (Joseph Henry Gilmore) or stream online Youtube.com channel. https://youtu.be/nzTnioSTz_g?si=Oh0GhCVpo8ntbz5U
Closing Prayer
Prayer lyrics from Salvation Army Song Book # 562
“Yes, the Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need,
I rely on His kindness; I allow Him to lead. He gives rest,
He gives quietness, He restores me within,
And He strengthens me daily, if my life honors Him.
When the way becomes darker,
I will not be afraid,
For my Lord, the Good Shepherd, will be there with His aid,
He will stay close beside me every step of the way,
He will guard me and guide me to the end of the day.
Amen.
