I will praise Yahweh with the choirs in worship.

Psalm 27 By David.

1 Yahweh is my light and my salvation.

Who is there to fear?

Yahweh is my life's fortress.

Who is there to be afraid of?

2 Evildoers closed in on me to tear me to pieces.

My opponents and enemies stumbled and fell.

3 Even though an army sets up camp against me, my heart will not be afraid.

Even though a war breaks out against me, I will still have confidence in the LORD.

4 I have asked one thing from Yahweh.

This I will seek: to remain in Yahweh's house all the days of my life in order to gaze at Yahweh's beauty and to search for an answer in his temple.

5 He hides me in his shelter when there is trouble.

He keeps me hidden in his tent.

He sets me high on a rock.

6 Now my head will be raised above my enemies who surround me.

I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy in his tent.

I will sing and make music to praise Yahweh.

7 Hear, O Yahweh, when I cry aloud.

Have pity on me, and answer me.

8 When you said, "Seek my face,"

my heart said to you, "O Yahweh, I will seek your face."a 9 Do not hide your face from me.

Do not angrily turn me away.

You have been my help.

Do not leave me!

Do not abandon me, O Elohim , my savior!

10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, Yahweh will take care of me.

11 Teach me your way, O Yahweh.

Lead me on a level path because I have enemies who spy on me.

12 Do not surrender me to the will of my opponents.

False witnesses have risen against me.

They breathe out violence.

13 I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh in this world of the living.

14 Wait with hope for Yahweh.

Be strong, and let your heart be courageous.

Yes, wait with hope for Yahweh .

YAHWEH ROI.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.

For at least part of their history, the Hebrews were a nomadic people who wandered from place to place seeking pasture for their herds of sheep, goats, and cattle. To sustain their livelihood, it was vital for shepherds to keep their animals from straying, protect them from thieves and wild animals, and provide them with plentiful pastures.

Shepherding was one of the earliest human occupations. A family's wealth was measured by how many sheep, goats, cows, horses, camels, and/or asses a man owned. Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David were all shepherds. Before David fought Goliath, he told Saul: "I am a shepherd for my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. If it attacked me, I took hold of its mane, struck it, and killed it"(1 Samuel 17:34-35).

It was the shepherd's responsibility to count each animal in orderto make sure none had gone astray. At night, sheep were kept in simple enclosures, in caves or within walls made from bushes.

In the ancient Near East and in Israel itself, "shepherd" eventually became a metaphor for kings. Though Israel's religious leaders were also referred to as shepherds, they were often chided fortheir failure to watch overthe flock of God.

The Hebrew Scriptures speak of God as the Shepherd of his people and apply this image to religious leaders as well. Both then and now Yahweh Roi (yah-WEH roe-EE) is the one true Shepherd of his people. The New Testament presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who protects the lives of his sheep at the cost of his own life.

Praying to Yahweh Roi One of the most comforting passages in the entire Bible is Psalm 23: Yahweh is my Roeh.

I am never in need.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside peaceful waters.

He renews my soul.

If you've ever been to England, chances are you've seen the lush green pastures in which sheep are safely penned. Most of the time there's not a shepherd in sight. Now imagine the challenge of finding pasture in a dry, rocky country like Israel. Much of the year, shepherds would have been on the move, searching for suitable ground on which to graze their sheep. That meant moving sheep through dangerous country, where thieves or predators might attack the flock. It meant sleeping out in the wilderness and risking your life for stubborn, fearful creatures who are nothing but a calamity waiting to happen.

But the Shepherd depicted in Psalm 23 loves these fearful, foolish creatures, and is willing to protect them by beating back all attackers. His is a difficult, costly task, but he is committed to caring for his sheep.

Most of us are comforted by this image of God as our Shepherd. Yet to embrace this truth about God, we also have to face the truth about ourselves. For we are the stubborn, foolish sheep for whom he cares. As we meditate on this image of God as our Shepherd, let's take time to thank him for leading us safely through so many rocky, barren times, and for providing for us even there.

When you pray to the Lord your Shepherd, remember that you are praying to the one who is never surprised by your weakness. He is the one who watches over you by day and by night, feeding you and leading you safely on the path of righteousness.

Yahweh Roi, thank you for your patience with me, for leading me despite my stubbornness and for keeping me safe despite my fear. You know where the green pastures are. You know how to protect me and keep me from straying. Give me the grace to follow your lead and trust in your care.

Promises Associated with the Name YAHWEH ROI.

I will take care of my sheep and lead them to rest, declares Adonay Yahweh. 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. (Ezekiel 34:15-16) I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep as the Father knows me. My sheep know me as I know the Father. So I give my life for my sheep. I also have other sheep that are not from this pen. I must lead them. They, too, will respond to my voice. So they will be one flock with one shepherd. (John 10:14-16)

Psalm 28 By David.

1 O Yahweh, I call to you.

O my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.

If you remain silent, I will be like those who go into the pit.

2 Hear my prayer for mercy when I call to you for help, when I lift my hands toward your most holy place.

3 Do not drag me away with wicked people, with troublemakers who speak of peace with their neighbors but have evil in their hearts.

4 Pay them back for what they have done, for their evil deeds.

Pay them back for what their hands have done, and give them what they deserve.

5 Yahweh will tear them down and never build them up again, because they never consider what he has done or what his hands have made.

6 Thank Yahweh!

He has heard my prayer for mercy!

7 Yahweh is my strength and my Magen .

My heart trusted him, so I received help.

My heart is triumphant; I give thanks to him with my song.

8 Yahweh is the strength of his people and a fortress for the victory of his Messiah.a 9 Save your people, and bless those who belong to you.

Be their Roeh , and carry them forever.

Psalm 29 A psalm by David.

1 Give to Yahweh, you heavenly beings.

Give to Yahweh glory and power.

2 Give to Yahweh the glory his name deserves.

Worship Yahweh in his holy splendor.

3 The voice of Yahweh rolls over the water.

The El of glory thunders.

Yahweh shouts over raging water.

4 The voice of Yahweh is powerful.

The voice of Yahweh is majestic.

5 The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars.

Yahweh splinters the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes Lebanon skip along like a calf and Mount Sirion like a wild ox.

7 The voice of Yahweh strikes with flashes of lightning.

8 The voice of Yahweh makes the wilderness tremble.

Yahweh makes the wilderness of Kadesh tremble.

9 The voice of Yahweh splits the oaksb and strips the trees of the forests bare.

Everyone in his temple is saying, "Glory!"

10 Yahweh sat enthroned over the flood.