Psalm 23 begins with words that many of us have known for years:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
We read them when we need comfort, we pray them when we are facing difficulties, and we share them with others who need encouragement. But sometimes a Scripture becomes so familiar that we can miss the power of what is actually being said.
In Hebrew, David begins with Adonai Ro’i (יְהוָה רֹעִי, pronounced: ah-doh-NIGH roh-EE)—“The LORD is my Shepherd.” This was not only something David believed about God. It was something he had experienced personally. David knew that the God of Israel was also the God who knew him, watched over him, and faithfully led him through every season of his life.
Before David became a king, he was a shepherd. He knew what it meant to care for sheep that depended completely on him. He led them to places where they could eat and rest, protected them from danger, and went after them when they wandered. Years later, when David looked back over his own journey with God, he understood that this was exactly what the Lord had been doing for him.
David’s life was not an easy one. He went from watching sheep in the fields to standing before Goliath, from being welcomed into Saul’s house to running for his life. He experienced victory and disappointment, friendship and betrayal, peace and danger. Yet through all of it, David could still declare, “Adonai Ro’i.” The LORD had never stopped being his Shepherd.
This is why Psalm 23 does not promise us a life without valleys. David says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” The valley was real, but so was the presence of God. David’s confidence came from knowing that wherever the road took him, his Shepherd would be there.
Centuries later, Yeshua stood before the people of Israel and said:
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
John 10:11
For those who knew the Scriptures, these words carried great meaning. Yeshua was showing them the heart of the Shepherd David had trusted. He said that the Good Shepherd knows His sheep, calls them by name, and leads them. And He showed us how great His love is by laying down His own life for us.
This is what Adonai Ro’i means for us today. We do not follow a God who watches our lives from a distance. We follow a Shepherd who knows us personally. He knows where you are today. He knows what you are carrying. He knows the questions you have and the road that is still ahead of you. You may not understand everything He is doing, but you can trust the One who is leading you.
Maybe today you are enjoying green pastures, or maybe you are walking through a valley you never expected to enter. In both places, the Shepherd is the same. His faithfulness does not change when our circumstances change. He is with us in the place of rest, and He is with us in the valley.
So let David’s words become your own declaration this week: Adonai Ro’i—the LORD is my Shepherd. When you need direction, listen for His voice. When fear comes, remember that He is with you. When you feel forgotten, remember that your Shepherd knows you by name. And when you cannot see where the road is leading, keep following Yeshua. The Good Shepherd knows the way.
Prayer
“Adonai Ro’i, You are my Shepherd. Thank You that You know me personally and never leave me alone. Help me to recognize Your voice and follow where You lead. When I am afraid, remind me that You are with me. When I wander, bring me back to You. Thank You for Yeshua, the Good Shepherd who loved me enough to lay down His life for me. Amen.”
Blessings from Israel,
Pastor Israel
