1 00:00:00,720 --> 00:00:03,640 We are right in the middle of a series called The Pathway to 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:07,040 Praise, and there's no better time to praise the Lord than 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,360 during the Christmas season when our hearts are fixed on the 4 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:15,840 arrival of the Messiah. But for the believer, praise is 5 00:00:15,840 --> 00:00:18,040 not something that's that's seasonal. 6 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,600 Praise is something that's that's continual. 7 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:26,400 For the believer, praise is not something that's optional. 8 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:29,320 Praise is that which is essential. 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:33,160 Why? Because praise is habitual to 10 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:37,960 our our nature. Praise is critical to us as 11 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,200 believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,640 Praise is to be that which is perpetual. 13 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:49,480 Praise is that which is essential to our nature. 14 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,120 For the Bible says in Isaiah 4321 that the people that I have 15 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:56,920 formed for myself, they will declare my praise. 16 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:01,040 So praise is not something that happens just once a year or 17 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:02,920 during a certain period of the year. 18 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,960 It happens all throughout our lives because that's who we are. 19 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:11,480 And as we journey along the pathway of of praise, we realize 20 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:16,840 that that it's the person that we praise is what enriches our 21 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,160 praise. It's that person that encourages 22 00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,680 us to praise all the more. It's that person that enhances 23 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,440 our praise, that enables our praise because of who he is and 24 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,680 what he's done. And so our focus on the pathway 25 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:36,280 of praise this week and last week is the person of praise. 26 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,920 To get to know the person of Christ is is essential and 27 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:45,840 everything that involves Him is, is absolutely critical to us as 28 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:49,080 believers. So let's begin today by looking 29 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,840 at Psalm 34. If you got your Bible, turn 30 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:53,320 there with me if you would please. 31 00:01:54,640 --> 00:02:00,640 Psalm verse number or chapter 34 verse #1 it reads this way. 32 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,960 I will bless the Lord at all times. 33 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,720 His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 34 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,560 You see, the psalmist knew that praise wasn't optional. 35 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,800 He knew the praise wasn't seasonal. 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,040 He knew it was continual. It was perpetual. 37 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:21,040 It was something that had to happen all the time. 38 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,560 His praise will be continually in my mouth. 39 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,040 And then he says this. My soul will make its boast in 40 00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:29,960 the Lord. The humble will hear it and 41 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,440 rejoice. But my soul is about boasting in 42 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,560 the Lord, not myself. My my soul is about bragging 43 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,680 about the Lord, not bragging about myself. 44 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:43,320 The psalmist knew that and that enabled him to praise his God 45 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:46,120 even all the more. And then when you come to verse 46 00:02:46,120 --> 00:02:50,760 #3 he says, Oh, magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his 47 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:55,240 name together. He cries out for for others to, 48 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:00,240 to magnify the name of the Lord. And when you magnify something, 49 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:03,320 you enlarge it. You make it bigger than life. 50 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:06,640 It's not that you you make God any bigger than he is. 51 00:03:06,640 --> 00:03:11,000 You can't do that. He's all-encompassing, but, but 52 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,320 the magnifying is that he becomes larger in your life and 53 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:17,000 mine. He becomes a larger influence in 54 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,520 our life. He becomes a, a bigger part of 55 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:21,760 our lives. So Psalmist is saying, I want 56 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,520 you to magnify the Lord with me. I, I want the Lord to be big and 57 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:28,920 huge in your life. That we might lift his name 58 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:32,640 together, that we might exalt his name, that we, we may raise 59 00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:36,760 the name of the Lord forever. And of course the name is his 60 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,320 character. It's His attributes, it's who He 61 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:41,880 is. In fact, the psalmist said in in 62 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:47,920 Psalm 69 verse #30 these words I will praise the name of God with 63 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:50,600 song. I will praise the character of 64 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:55,280 God, the attributes of God with song and magnify Him with 65 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,480 Thanksgiving. My life will be enlarged as I 66 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,760 give thanks and praise to God for who He is. 67 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,640 This is so important but read on what the psalmist says in verse 68 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,200 #4. He says I sought the Lord and he 69 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:16,360 answered me and he delivered me from all my fears. 70 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,440 If you take good notes just just circle the word deliver. 71 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:26,200 He delivered me from all my fears because he knew that the 72 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:29,280 God he extolled was a a deliverer. 73 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:34,320 He knew that the God that was to be magnified in his life was his 74 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,800 deliverer. And then know what it says in 75 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:42,160 verse #5 they look to Him and were radiant. 76 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:49,120 But literally it says those who look to Him are radiant. 77 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,360 In other words, when you boast in the Lord, and when you 78 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:57,000 magnify His name, when you exalt Him, there's something about 79 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,840 your external being that radiates the glory of the Lord. 80 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,520 It's like when you walk into a room. 81 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,440 I hope that when you walk into a room, you light up the room. 82 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:10,640 I don't want you to walk into a room and make it dark. 83 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,400 I don't want you to walk into a room and make it gloomy. 84 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,040 I don't want you to walk into a room and everybody says, oh, 85 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:19,400 look who's here. I want you to walk into a room 86 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,080 and just light it up. Why? 87 00:05:22,080 --> 00:05:25,200 Because your, your face is radiant with the beauty of the 88 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,080 Lord. That's what the psalmist meant 89 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,560 when he said these words in Psalm 147. 90 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,720 Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God, for 91 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:37,920 it is pleasant and praise is beautiful. 92 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:41,080 Praise is fitting. Praise is becoming. 93 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:45,440 Praise changes the whole scenery for those whose lives are 94 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:50,040 radiant with His glory. And so the psalmist knows that 95 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:55,160 once you exalt his name, once you magnify the Lord with him, 96 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:59,800 you'll call upon him. He will deliver you and those 97 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:02,800 who look to him. Everything about their external 98 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:08,000 being will radiate the beauty and the comeliness of our God. 99 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,800 And then it says this in verse #6 this poor man cried, and the 100 00:06:13,800 --> 00:06:19,200 Lord heard him and saved him. Out of all his troubles. 101 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:26,120 He heard him and he saved him. If you got your pen still, just 102 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:30,800 look with the word saved because he knew his God was a deliverer. 103 00:06:32,000 --> 00:06:36,080 He knew his God was a savior. And then you read on. 104 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:41,720 It says the Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear 105 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:49,160 him and rescues them. So again, just take your your 106 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:51,400 pen or pencil and circle the word rescue. 107 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:57,840 So the psalmist knew that the Lord was a rescuer, a deliverer, 108 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:02,480 and the Savior. Remember, he said, I want you to 109 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:11,320 magnify Yahweh with me and extol that name, the name of Yahweh, 110 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,160 elevate that name with me. Why? 111 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:22,840 Because this God is a Savior, A deliverer, a rescuer of man. 112 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:26,520 This is so important, this is so crucial to understand. 113 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:31,600 Notice he says, the Angel of the Lord encamps around those who 114 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,920 fear him. The Angel of the Lord is a, is a 115 00:07:34,920 --> 00:07:40,520 phrase that describes A Christophany, an appearance of 116 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:44,560 Christ in the Old Testament before the incarnation. 117 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,000 Very important to understand. Last week I told you where when 118 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:51,000 things are mentioned first in the Bible. 119 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,840 You should take note of that because there's a reason for 120 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:56,600 that. And the very first time the 121 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:01,280 phrase the Angel of the Lord appears in the Bible, the very 122 00:08:01,280 --> 00:08:05,440 first time the pre Incarnate Christ appears in the Bible, 123 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:11,800 listen carefully, is not to a Jew, it's to an Egyptian 124 00:08:11,800 --> 00:08:17,000 handmaid named Hagar in Genesis chapter 16. 125 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:21,280 That's the first time the phrase the Angel of the Lord appears. 126 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:26,080 And remember, if you will, that Hagar was booted out of her 127 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:30,920 house by by Sarah. Remember, Sarah wanted a child 128 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:34,159 and she was barren. And Abraham was promised that 129 00:08:34,159 --> 00:08:37,400 his seed would, would, would bless the the nations of the 130 00:08:37,400 --> 00:08:39,440 world. But she had no seed. 131 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:43,240 She had no son. So she offered Hagar, the 132 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:48,080 Egyptian handmaid to her husband Abraham, because you could do 133 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,920 that legally in those days and the, the the air would continue 134 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:55,560 on the line of the of the name of the man would continue on. 135 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:58,640 And so she offered up Hagar. Well, Hagar, I got pregnant. 136 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,160 Sarah's not happy about that. Sarah's like, whoa, man, you got 137 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,000 to go. So she goes to Abraham, say 138 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:10,360 Abraham, what should I do? Abraham, being the non leader 139 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:15,440 that he was said, I don't know. You do with what you want with 140 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:17,400 her. Instead of stepping in and 141 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,240 leading his wife, he let his wife take the lead. 142 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,720 Not a good choice. So she booted Hagar out of the 143 00:09:25,720 --> 00:09:28,360 house. So Hagar goes on this journey. 144 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:33,360 She comes to a, A, a, a a a little spring in the wilderness. 145 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:39,040 And there the Angel of the Lord appears and speaks to her and 146 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:43,560 says you're going to have a son. His name is Ishmael, which means 147 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:49,160 God hears or the God. Yeah, yeah, God hears. 148 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,400 And so she, she names him Ishmael. 149 00:09:52,480 --> 00:09:59,280 But at that place she names that place Elroy, which means the God 150 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:02,800 who sees me. And then she named that spring 151 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:07,440 beer Hala Roy, which means the well of the living God who has 152 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:11,360 seen me. Very important to realize this 153 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:14,320 because the Angel of the Lord sees everything. 154 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,680 And so now the the psalmist picks up in that phrase and says 155 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:21,160 the Angel Lord encamps around those who fear him and what does 156 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,720 he do? He rescues them like he rescued 157 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:29,520 Hagar, sent Hagar back to Abraham and Sarah. 158 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,040 And that's how Abraham knew that she really had an encounter with 159 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,720 the living God because God had told her to go back to them. 160 00:10:37,400 --> 00:10:42,680 Very important to realize this. So the psalmist says, I want you 161 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,960 to make God so big in your life that others see Him and not you. 162 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,240 So you brag about him and boast about Him, not yourself. 163 00:10:51,400 --> 00:10:55,400 And so when they see God in you, they realize that He actually is 164 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,160 a deliverer, A savior, and a rescuer. 165 00:10:58,520 --> 00:11:01,880 Now why is that important? Because that is the meaning of 166 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:04,040 His name. Go back to me with Exodus 167 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:11,400 chapter 3. Exodus chapter 3 and it says 168 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:13,760 this. This is the third time the 169 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:18,600 phrase the Angel of the Lord is mentioned in the scriptures. 170 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:24,440 OK Exodus chapter 3. Now Moses was pressuring the 171 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,160 flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of 172 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:30,320 Midian, and he led the flock to the West side of the wilderness 173 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,920 and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 174 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:40,600 The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from 175 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:45,120 the midst of a Bush, and he looked, and behold, the Bush was 176 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,120 burning with fire. Yet the Bush was not consumed. 177 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:55,000 And God speaks to Moses from the burning Bush. 178 00:11:55,000 --> 00:12:00,680 In fact, it says that it says God called to him from the midst 179 00:12:00,680 --> 00:12:02,840 of the Bush. So whoever the Angel of the Lord 180 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:08,000 is, is God. God speaks to him from the 181 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:15,160 burning Bush, and then it begins to describe to to Moses what it 182 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,400 is he's going to do based on what he has heard and what he 183 00:12:18,400 --> 00:12:20,680 has seen. Very important. 184 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:26,240 So in verse #7 he says. Then the Lord said, I have 185 00:12:26,240 --> 00:12:32,680 surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt, and 186 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:35,880 I've given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters. 187 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:38,000 For I am aware of the sufferings. 188 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,520 For I have come down to deliver them from the power of the 189 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:46,760 Egyptians, and to bring them up from the land to a good and 190 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,320 spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey. 191 00:12:52,680 --> 00:12:56,520 That describes to us the name of God. 192 00:12:57,680 --> 00:12:59,400 He says I'm coming down to deliver. 193 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,200 My people. Remember, God comes down for one 194 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:06,160 of three reasons. He comes down to destroy. 195 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:11,120 He comes down to discipline, or he comes down to deliver. 196 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,680 Those are the only three times God comes down. 197 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:18,840 When he came down the first time, he came down to deliver. 198 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:23,160 When he comes, when he comes again, he comes to destroy. 199 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:27,880 But here he says, I'm coming down to deliver my people 200 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:31,200 because I've seen their affliction, I've heard their 201 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,760 cry. Remember, this is the God who 202 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,120 sees me, Elroy. This is the God who hears. 203 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:41,320 Ishmael, This is the God who sees and hears. 204 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:45,320 And so he says, look, I I'm coming down and what I'm going 205 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,680 to do is I'm going to demonstrate my power. 206 00:13:49,640 --> 00:13:53,400 I'm going to display my provision and I'm going to 207 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:58,640 deliver my people, and in so doing I'm going to declare my 208 00:13:58,640 --> 00:14:03,960 preeminence. That's what the name Yave means. 209 00:14:04,680 --> 00:14:06,640 So he goes on, because Moses asked him. 210 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:08,800 He says, what, what? What? 211 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,880 Who should I say? Send me, He says, tell them I am 212 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,200 sent you. And the phrase I am are those 213 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,800 four Hebrew consonants that make up the name of God, yave. 214 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:22,440 And so he says these words to Moses. 215 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:28,400 He says, verse #20 I will stretch out my hand and strike 216 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:33,320 Egypt with all my miracles, which I shall do in the midst of 217 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,400 it. After that, he will let you go. 218 00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,400 I'm going to demonstrate my power. 219 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,040 And in demonstrating my power, I'm going to deliver my people 220 00:14:44,440 --> 00:14:46,800 and I'm going to display my provision. 221 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:50,000 Look what he says. He says I will grant this people 222 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:52,880 favor in the sight of the Egyptians and it should be that 223 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:57,160 when you go, you will not go empty handed, but every woman 224 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:59,680 shall ask of her neighbor and the woman who lives in her 225 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:04,200 house, articles of silver, articles of gold and clothing, 226 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,240 and you will put them on your sons and daughters. 227 00:15:07,480 --> 00:15:11,320 Thus you will plunder the Egyptians. 228 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:15,640 God says this is who I am, this is what I do. 229 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:21,560 I am a deliverer, I'm a rescuer, I'm a Savior, I'm a Redeemer. 230 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,320 So in Psalm 34, the psalmist says I will, I will call upon 231 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:28,800 the Lord. I will call upon him because he 232 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:32,560 saves me, because he delivers me, because he rescues me. 233 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:37,240 That's why he says, O magnify the Lord Yahweh with me and let 234 00:15:37,240 --> 00:15:41,040 us exalt that name of God, which is his memorial name, because 235 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:43,000 that's what he says in Exodus 315. 236 00:15:43,160 --> 00:15:46,120 This is my memorial name that's to be remembered from generation 237 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:49,800 to generation. So the psalmist of Psalm 34 says 238 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,600 this, this is memorial name. He's a savior, a rescue, a 239 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:55,200 deliverer. That's who he is. 240 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,920 That's what he does. That's the person of praise. 241 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,240 And that's what the psalmist is trying to help us understand. 242 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:07,640 This is the name that needs to be large in our lives, seen more 243 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:11,920 so than ourselves, because we boast in his name. 244 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:18,440 We extol his name. And so he begins to describe 245 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:20,400 himself all throughout the Old Testament. 246 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,320 That's why the person of praise is critical as you journey along 247 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:29,000 the pathway of praise. Because we saw last week where 248 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:34,840 he was Yave Hassinu, the Lord my Maker. 249 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:38,000 The Lord my Maker is the one who forms me. 250 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:42,160 He fashions me. Psalm 95 verse #6 And then we 251 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:47,920 saw Yave Sabeoth, the Lord of armies. 252 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:49,960 So important. Why? 253 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:53,600 Because not only is he the one who forms me and fashions me, 254 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:57,920 he's the one who fights for me. And that's why the Book of 255 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:01,640 Malachi concludes with 25 different references to Yave 256 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,359 Sabayov. And then everything goes silent 257 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:12,480 for 400 years until that Lord of armies, that Lord is birthed in 258 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:16,040 a Manger in Bethlehem, and his armies make the announcement, 259 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:18,079 the glory of the Lord shown all around them. 260 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:24,280 And the host of his of his armies declared glory to God in 261 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:28,520 the highest, because he's still Yabeh Sabeoth. 262 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,480 So the Lord who forms me and fashions me is the Lord of 263 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,880 fights for me. And the Lord who fights for me 264 00:17:36,080 --> 00:17:43,200 is Yave Rohi, the Lord my shepherd. 265 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,120 The one who fashions me and forms me is the one who fights 266 00:17:48,120 --> 00:17:53,840 for me, and the one who fights for me is the one who feeds me. 267 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:59,160 Because Rohi, the Lord, my shepherd, is best defined as one 268 00:17:59,160 --> 00:18:03,200 who feeds or one who leads to a pasture. 269 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:08,720 Again, when is it mentioned? 1st Psalm 23. 270 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:15,000 You know the Psalm very well. The Lord is my shepherd. 271 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:21,680 I shall not want. Why? 272 00:18:22,800 --> 00:18:26,240 Because the Lord, who is a shepherd is the one who feeds 273 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:29,560 me. So when I'm hungry, I'm fed. 274 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:32,120 When I'm thirsty, I'm giving something to drink. 275 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,960 I'm satisfied, David says as he looks back over his life. 276 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,360 Of all the sin and sorrow that David faced, of all the hearts 277 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:42,320 should be faced. When Saul would, would, would, 278 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:46,440 would search after him, David would write Psalm 23. 279 00:18:47,200 --> 00:18:49,680 He'd reflect back on his life and realize that the Lord was a 280 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:51,600 shepherd. The Lord was guiding him, 281 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,480 leading him, feeding him, protecting him, so that when he 282 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,600 walked to the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear 283 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:01,960 no evil, for that shepherd was with him, to guide him, to 284 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:07,600 protect him, to feed him. So this is David's testimony as 285 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,960 to how his life went under the direction of the great Shepherd 286 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,480 of Israel. And of course, David was a 287 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,680 shepherd. And David knew about 288 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:23,800 shepherding, and yet he realized that the Lord was his shepherd. 289 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:29,600 That's probably the most endearing term to describe our 290 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:33,960 God. It's warm, it's tender, it 291 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,960 explains to us the nurturing responsibility that our Lord has 292 00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:42,080 to feed His people. Not not just feed them food 293 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:45,720 physically, but to feed them spiritually and lead them in the 294 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:53,680 way that honors the name of God. The Bible says these words in 295 00:19:53,680 --> 00:19:58,640 Isaiah 41st #10 Behold, the Lord. 296 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:02,560 God will come with might. With his arm ruling for him, 297 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:08,200 behold, his reward is with him and his recompense before him. 298 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:14,200 Like a shepherd, he will tend his flock in his arm. 299 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,480 He will gather the lambs and carry them in his bosom. 300 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:22,280 He will gently lead the nursing ewes. 301 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,160 What a testimony as to what's going to happen when our Lord 302 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:30,400 comes again. But if you read the the book of 303 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:35,560 Jeremiah, as Jeremiah prophesied right before Israel goes into 304 00:20:35,560 --> 00:20:39,480 Babylonian captivity, remember Isaiah prophesied some 100 years 305 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,800 before that. Jeremiah prophesied right on the 306 00:20:42,800 --> 00:20:45,080 cusp of them going into captivity. 307 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:50,400 He condemns Israel's shepherds, Israel's leaders. 308 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,400 They were called shepherds because they were to tend to the 309 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:56,160 flock of God, but he condemns them. 310 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:59,760 And then when you come to the book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel is 311 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,200 written during their captivity, during the Babylonian captivity, 312 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:07,760 and Ezekiel has this indictment to say to the nation. 313 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,480 Thus says the Lord God. Ezekiel 34 verse #2 woe 314 00:21:13,800 --> 00:21:19,120 shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves, should 315 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:21,240 not the shepherds feed the flock? 316 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:25,960 That's why, that's where why the word rohi means to feed because 317 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:28,200 that's how it's used most in the scriptures. 318 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,160 And yet he indicts the the religious establishment because 319 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:35,680 they were feeding themselves, they weren't feeding the flock. 320 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:40,000 Verse 4 Those who are sickly, you have not strengthened the 321 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:43,520 disease, you have not healed the broken, you have not bound up 322 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,640 the scattered. You have not brought back, nor 323 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:51,960 have you sought for the loss, but with force and with severity 324 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:55,680 you have dominated them. They were scattered for lack of 325 00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,120 a shepherd. They became food for every beast 326 00:21:58,120 --> 00:22:01,960 of the field and were scattered. My flock wondered, my flock was 327 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:03,840 scattered. And he goes on and talks about 328 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:06,440 my flock and my flock this and my flock that. 329 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,160 You did not care for my flock. And then in verse 11. 330 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:13,680 For thus says the Lord God, behold, I myself will search for 331 00:22:13,680 --> 00:22:18,880 my sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for the herd 332 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:23,160 in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care 333 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:27,960 for my sheep, and will deliver them from all the places to 334 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,600 which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. 335 00:22:32,440 --> 00:22:35,880 And then he says in verse #13 I will feed them. 336 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:41,680 Verse #14 I will feed them. Verse #15 I will feed my flock. 337 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,760 I will lead them to rest. Verse 16. 338 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,800 I will seek the loss. Verse 16, at the end I will feed 339 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:50,320 them. Verse 23. 340 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:55,560 Then I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David, and 341 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:59,360 he will feed them. He will feed them himself and be 342 00:22:59,360 --> 00:23:01,720 their shepherd. And I the Lord will be their 343 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,000 God, and my servant David will be Prince among them. 344 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:09,600 I, the Lord have spoken. God says I'm going to send my 345 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:11,440 servant David. He's not talking about King 346 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:13,800 David. King David died some 400 plus 347 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,560 years before, after before this. Excuse me. 348 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:20,360 So who's he talking about? He's talking about the Messiah 349 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:23,240 who's called my servant. Read the book of Isaiah. 350 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:27,320 They are called the servant songs, especially Isaiah 53 351 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:29,320 which talks about the servant of the Lord. 352 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,360 The shepherd is my servant David. 353 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:36,080 He's the son of David. He says I will send my shepherd, 354 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:40,320 and my shepherd will feed them. My shepherd will lead them. 355 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:48,680 So what does Jesus say? And in John 10, he says, I am 356 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,640 the Good Shepherd. I'm the Good Shepherd. 357 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,200 I know my sheep and they know me. 358 00:23:57,320 --> 00:24:01,920 The shepherd speaks, they listen and they follow. 359 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,800 Christ said I am the Good Shepherd. 360 00:24:08,120 --> 00:24:11,360 And so Christ declared himself as the shepherd, the servant of 361 00:24:11,360 --> 00:24:15,800 David, the shepherd of Israel. He was the one who will will 362 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:19,080 feed us and lead us and guide us. 363 00:24:19,800 --> 00:24:23,120 This is so important. Remember when the Magi came 364 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:26,920 right into Jerusalem in Matthew chapter 2, they came looking for 365 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:32,680 who the king of the Jews where? Where was he who was born king 366 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:37,960 of the Jews? And Herod and Idiomian believed 367 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,920 that he was the proper king of the Jews, although he wasn't. 368 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,200 He declared himself as the king of the Jews. 369 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:46,640 He didn't want any rivalry come into his life, and so he wanted 370 00:24:46,640 --> 00:24:49,120 to know where this king was to be born. 371 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:52,440 So he gathers the scribes together, and the scribes tell 372 00:24:52,440 --> 00:24:57,040 him where this king will be born. 373 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:02,920 And what do they do? They quote Micah chapter 5, 374 00:25:03,200 --> 00:25:10,720 verse #2 which says, And you Bethlehem Ephrathah. 375 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:19,520 For out of you shall come forth a ruler who will shepherd my 376 00:25:20,440 --> 00:25:23,520 people. From you. 377 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:30,800 Bethlehem Ephrathah will come. A ruler will come, a king, and 378 00:25:30,800 --> 00:25:34,800 he will be the shepherd of my people. 379 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:40,320 Now why is that important? Why is that statement important? 380 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:45,360 It's a prophecy, right? Micah 5 verse #2 But why is it 381 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:50,120 called Bethlehem Ephrathah? That's a good question. 382 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:54,320 And that's because the ancient name for Bethlehem was 383 00:25:54,840 --> 00:26:00,080 Ephrathah. And Ephrathah means to be 384 00:26:00,080 --> 00:26:03,960 fruitful. Bethlehem is the House of bread. 385 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,240 And Jesus says I am the bread of life. 386 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,600 And so the bread of life was born in the House of bread. 387 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:19,080 But the House of bread is that which fulfills us to such an 388 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:23,000 extent that we then can be fruitful. 389 00:26:24,040 --> 00:26:27,680 That's why it's called Bethlehem Ephrathah. 390 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:33,400 But it goes even further beyond that, because before Micah 5 391 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:40,760 verse #2 is Micah of chapter 4 verse #8, Micah 4 verse #8 and 392 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:45,800 the Micah 4 verse #8's a prophecy, A prophecy about the 393 00:26:45,800 --> 00:26:50,160 tower of the flock. In Hebrew it's called Migdal 394 00:26:50,360 --> 00:26:54,400 Adair. He says to you, Tower of the 395 00:26:54,400 --> 00:27:00,600 flock, it will come. You are the daughter of Zion, 396 00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:07,240 you will have one come who will have dominion and rule. 397 00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:14,320 Now why is that important? Why does it say that on the 398 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:20,040 South side of Bethlehem it's called Migdal, a dare. 399 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,120 Well, you for that you got to go all the way back to the book of 400 00:27:23,120 --> 00:27:27,360 Genesis, the 35th chapter, when Rachel's about to give birth to 401 00:27:27,360 --> 00:27:30,440 her second son and she's going to die. 402 00:27:32,040 --> 00:27:35,880 And she, she's so afraid that, that, that she's going to die 403 00:27:35,880 --> 00:27:39,160 and not live that she wants to call her son Ben Oni, which 404 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:43,600 means son of my sorrow. But Jacob intercedes and says, 405 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:47,080 no, he will not be called Ben Oni, but he would call Ben 406 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:51,960 Hamin, which means son of my right hand or son of my 407 00:27:51,960 --> 00:27:54,480 strength. Why is that important? 408 00:27:55,080 --> 00:27:59,560 Because Benjamin became a type of Christ. 409 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:05,000 Why? Because Rachel was buried at 410 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:09,640 Migdal Adair Ephrathah, which is Bethlehem. 411 00:28:10,760 --> 00:28:14,560 Her grave is still there today. Why is that important? 412 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:19,160 Because the tower of the flock was a two-story tower, and on 413 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,720 the top of the story would stand the shepherd as he would 414 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:25,080 overlook the shepherd's fields and watch over his flock and 415 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:26,400 make sure they were taken care of. 416 00:28:26,520 --> 00:28:30,400 But underneath on the 1st floor was the birthing place for all 417 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,680 the lambs that would be prepared for Passover in Jerusalem. 418 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:40,280 So Bethlehem Ephrathah became the place of birth for all the 419 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,600 sacrificial lambs that would be slaughtered at Passover. 420 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:48,240 Why is that important? Because in the the birthing 421 00:28:48,240 --> 00:28:53,280 experience when the the lamb came out it had to be quickly 422 00:28:53,280 --> 00:28:57,120 wrapped in swaddling clothes. Why? 423 00:28:57,840 --> 00:29:01,960 Because the lamb would kick and flail and maybe cut himself or 424 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:04,120 run up against something and injure himself. 425 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,640 They then would be an they would be a blemish lamb, not an 426 00:29:07,640 --> 00:29:10,280 unblemished lamb. And so they would wrap the 427 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:15,000 little lamb in, in cloth to protect it from becoming 428 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:18,760 blemished. So it would be an unblemished 429 00:29:19,240 --> 00:29:23,920 lamb that would qualify for sacrifice at Passover. 430 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,960 Why is that important? Well, look what it says in the 431 00:29:28,960 --> 00:29:35,840 book of Zechariah in Zechariah chapter 13 verse #7 it says 432 00:29:35,960 --> 00:29:39,880 awake, O sword against my shepherd. 433 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:43,200 Who's that? That's that's the Messiah. 434 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:48,600 That's a servant of David and against the man my associate, 435 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:54,080 and the word associate means equal, equal in nature, equal in 436 00:29:54,080 --> 00:29:57,200 character. And this man is not a normal 437 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:00,000 man. He is gay bear, a supernatural 438 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:03,000 man. So awake, O sword, against the 439 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:07,640 man, not just a normal man, but an extraordinary man who is my 440 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:12,880 equal, meaning that the shepherd is equal in nature to God 441 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:18,080 himself. He says, declares the Lord of 442 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:23,200 hosts, strike the shepherd, that the sheep may be scattered, The 443 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,080 shepherd's going to be slain, the shepherd's going to die. 444 00:30:28,360 --> 00:30:32,680 That was all prophesied. And so Christ says in John 10, I 445 00:30:32,680 --> 00:30:38,440 am the Good Shepherd, and I lay down my life for the sheep. 446 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:42,120 He told them that He came to die. 447 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,640 He came to fulfill Zechariah chapter 13, verses 7 and eight. 448 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:47,440 He came to die. Why? 449 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:51,760 Because you see, He was the lamb that was slain from the 450 00:30:51,760 --> 00:30:54,400 foundation of the world. Where was he born? 451 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:58,640 Bethlehem, Ephrathah. He was born in the place where 452 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:00,800 all the sacrificial lambs were prepared. 453 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:03,120 And when he was born, what did Mary do? 454 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:05,920 She wrapped him in what? Swaddling clothes. 455 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,560 And she lied him in a Manger, a feeding through. 456 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:10,720 Why? Because everything about the 457 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:13,560 birth of the Messiah foreshadowed all that was going 458 00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:20,440 to take place at Passover when the shepherd, the Lamb, would be 459 00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:24,080 slain. So listen to what it says in the 460 00:31:24,080 --> 00:31:27,640 Book of Revelation in the 5th chapter. 461 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:32,320 I'm sorry the 7th chapter of Revelation with these words. 462 00:31:35,880 --> 00:31:46,440 For the Lamb is in the center of the throne, and the Lamb in the 463 00:31:46,440 --> 00:31:56,920 center of the throne will be their shepherd and will guide 464 00:31:56,920 --> 00:32:04,240 them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe every 465 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:12,680 tear from their eyes. John sees a vision of the 466 00:32:12,680 --> 00:32:19,040 glorified Son of God, sees him as a Lamb in the center of the 467 00:32:19,040 --> 00:32:23,360 throne. And that Lamb is the shepherd 468 00:32:23,640 --> 00:32:27,080 that will continue to guide God's people throughout all 469 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:32,360 eternity. And that shepherd is the God who 470 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:36,000 wipes away every tear from people's eyes. 471 00:32:37,600 --> 00:32:44,920 That's why Yave Rohi is so important to understand that we 472 00:32:44,920 --> 00:32:46,880 can actually say the Lord is my shepherd. 473 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:52,600 I shall not once. Why? 474 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:57,240 Because he's the one who feeds. He's the one who leads to 475 00:32:57,240 --> 00:33:00,840 greener pastures. He's the one who causes my soul 476 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:05,160 to lie down by quiet waters. He's the one that is with me 477 00:33:05,160 --> 00:33:06,760 when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 478 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:09,760 I don't have to fear any evil. I've got my shepherd. 479 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:13,240 He's with me. The one who feeds me. 480 00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:16,360 The one who feeds me. He's the one who fights for me. 481 00:33:16,800 --> 00:33:19,880 He's Jabe Sabea. The one who fights for me is the 482 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:21,400 one who formed me and fashioned me. 483 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:26,840 He's Jabe Haseenu. Ah, but know this, The Lord that 484 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:29,560 is the one who formed me and fashioned me. 485 00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:36,680 The Lord who fights for me, the Lord who feeds me, is the Lord 486 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:44,720 who foresees everything. Because he's called Yawei Yuri, 487 00:33:45,600 --> 00:33:48,160 the Lord who foresees everything. 488 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:52,720 And because he foresees it, he knows how to fashion me. 489 00:33:53,560 --> 00:33:57,280 Because he foresees it, he knows how to feed me. 490 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:02,160 Because he foresees it. He knows how to feed me. 491 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:10,159 It's all been foreseen. He is yave Yure, but to 492 00:34:10,159 --> 00:34:14,040 understand that you're going to have to come back next week that 493 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:16,480 we might explain it to you. Let's pray together. 494 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:18,800 Father God, we thank you for today. 495 00:34:20,760 --> 00:34:24,760 We thank you for all that you've done for truly you are a great 496 00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:28,840 God. Your name is scripture is is 497 00:34:28,840 --> 00:34:33,760 critical to us. Understanding our praise of you 498 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:39,360 and our prayer today, Lord, is that you would cause us to see 499 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:44,120 you all the more for who you are, that our praise would not 500 00:34:44,120 --> 00:34:50,159 just be seasonal, but continual. Praise for us would not be 501 00:34:50,159 --> 00:34:56,040 optional but essential because praise truly is habitual to our 502 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:59,040 nature. It's to be perpetual in our 503 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:04,280 lives because it's critical to how we live. 504 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:09,000 For the glory and honor of our King, we thank you in Jesus 505 00:35:09,000 --> 00:35:10,760 name, Amen.