Christ in the Old Testament

               I have always had a question when reading Matthew 23:37, 38. Jesus seems to be awfully upset by the fact that the people of Jerusalem had not accepted Him. I really didn’t understand why.

               Let’s face it: He came and completely changed the religion that they had practiced for thousands of years. He should have expected resistance, shouldn’t He? After all, when God laid down the Law for the Israelites, He made it clear that any form of idolatry was forbidden. When Jesus identified Himself as the Son of God (John 10:29, 36), He was, in fact trying to change their religious beliefs, and God had forbidden that, right?

               From what I had been taught, Jesus only made a few appearances in the Old Testament. He appeared to Abraham, once to stop him from killing Isaac (Gen. 22:11-12), and then again as Melchisedec (Gen 14:18-19). He appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3:2-6). We also know that He appeared to Daniel (Dan. 10:5-6; Rev. 1:13-15).

               So how could God expect Jesus to be recognized and accepted, when the children of Israel didn’t really know who He was or when He would come? That’s what I thought, anyway. I should have known better. The nature of God is not like that. He just doesn’t operate that way.

               As I was obediently studying Psalms, Jesus began to reveal to me His presence in the Old Testament. I have to say, that this took me some time in prayer and study to fully understand.

               Psalm 23:1 reads “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (kjv). We are all familiar with this scripture.

After reading this Psalm, the Lord then took me to Exodus Chapter 3. In Exodus Chapter 3, Moses is having a discussion with the Lord through a burning bush. First off, the Lord identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Ex. 3:6). Then the Lord (YHWH/ Jehovah) says that He has seen the oppression of His people, and has come down to deliver them (Ex 3:7-10). When Moses asks Him what His name is, He replies “I AM THAT I AM” (YHWH/Jehovah). This statement literally means “I will be what I will be.”

In this short discourse, the Lord has revealed that He is the eternal One, and He never leaves or forsakes His children. He was with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is also there in the present to see the oppression of His people. He will also be there in the future to lead them to a new land, flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8).

Then the Lord God (YHWH Elohim/Jehovah Elohim) tells Moses that the God of the past, present, and future is sending him to His people, and His name (YHWH/Jehovah) is a memorial to all generations.

Okay, now I have a question: who, exactly is YHWH/Jehovah? Is it God? Is it Jesus? Who is it?

Psalm 23:1 tells us that the Lord (YHWH Rohi/ Jehovah Rohi) is my shepherd. John 10:11, 14 tells us that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. If the Lord (YHWH/Jehovah) is my shepherd, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd, then it stands to reason that Jesus is YHWH/Jehovah, right?

Wait a minute, here. If YHWH/Jehovah is translated as Lord hundreds of times in the Old Testament, and Jesus is YHWH/Jehovah, that means that He was very active in the lives of the children of Israel, even before He came to earth as a man! When David said “The Lord (YHWH/Jehovah) is my shepherd,” he was implying a very intimate, one-to-one relationship with YHWH/Jehovah.

Jesus said “I know My sheep and am known of Mine” (John 10:14). He also said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Again, this implies a very close personal relationship.

Is it possible that David had a close, one-on-one relationship with Christ several hundred years before He was born? It’s not only possible; the Word makes it clear that is exactly what took place.

The name YHWH first appears in Genesis chapter 2 verse 4. In the KJV it is translated as Lord God (YHWH{Jehovah} Elohim). Jesus was there when the earth was made. He was there when Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15). He invited Noah into the ark (Gen 7:1). He promised Noah that the ground would no longer be cursed for man’s sins (Gen. 8:21-22). He confused the languages at the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:6-7). He created the earth and blessed the Sabbath (Gen. 20:11).

So Jesus/YHWH/Jehovah was involved in everything that happened to His people from the very beginning. So why did He say that “by My name, Jehovah (YHWH/Jesus) was I not known”? Because YHWH refers to Jesus. In the past, the Israelites had never needed redemption and deliverance. Before He could deliver them from the Egyptians, they needed to know His full character. They needed to understand that he was redemption, deliverance and salvation. They had to be given the chance to develop a relationship with the One that would deliver them from oppression. They had to know that His name stood for a God that was eternal, and His name would bring salvation and deliverance. He had always been there, and now He was reaching out to His people, showing them a side of His nature that had never before been revealed. He was reaching out to an oppressed people, waiting for them to accept Him as God. He had always been there for them.

Most importantly, He was there for a personal relationship with anyone that would seek Him out. David very clearly had a personal relationship with Jesus, as did Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and many others. Psalm 22 tells of how Jesus delivered David when he was broken and had no means of escaping the situation. Psalm 23 tells us of the close, intimate relationship that David had with Jesus.

And now, Jesus is still there, waiting to embrace whosoever will. It’s a shame that so many of us, living in the age of Grace, do not have that close, intimate relationship with Him. Do you? Can you say that you are one of His sheep, and that you know His voice? If not, invite Him into your heart today. Begin building that relationship with the One that loves you so much that He died for you. Make the decision that will change your life forever. Become a sheep.

ARE YOU A SHEEP?

John 10:1-16

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 13 † The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Jesus calls Himself “the Good Shepherd.” We, therefore must be the sheep He is the Shepherd of. What does it mean to be a sheep?

We all know that David, who wrote this Psalm, was a shepherd before he became king of Israel. Let’s take a look at what he said it meant to be a sheep

Psalm 23

¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He maketh me to lie down in green^a pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. ³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. ⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest^b my head with oil; my cup runneth over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever^c.

So what does it mean to be a sheep? The Lord tells us in this Psalm of 14 blessings He has given His sheep:

1) We have the Lord as our Shepherd (v.1)- He personally leads, guides, and protects every one of us

2) “I shall not want” (v.1)- He provides for our every need - that is the job of a shepherd

3) He causes us to rest in choice green pastures (v.2)- Shepherds would leave home for days at a time to take their flocks to the best, choicest pastures to feed and rest

4) He guides us to still, deep, refreshing waters (v.2) - The Holy Spirit is the deep, still, refreshing water He has guided us to so that we may be completely refreshed, and have His presence in the depths of our souls

5) Restores our souls (v.3) - He does this through the power of the Holy Spirit when we decide to kill the flesh. We all know that sheep were used as a sacrifice in Old Testament days. Romans 12:1,2 says ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

When we present our bodies as a living sacrifice (like a sheep) He renews our minds and restores our souls so that our lives will be living proof of the good, acceptable, perfect will of God.

6) He leads us in the paths of righteousness (v.3) - this leaves us without any occasion to stumble and fall if we are following our Shepherd.

7) He safely guides us through the valley of the shadow of death - in Israel, much of the land is barren wilderness. The Hebrews recognized the wilderness as the abode of the demonic. This verse clearly says that He will guide us through this wilderness with no fear of any evil befalling us.

8) I will fear no evil (v.4) - this is because our shepherd is always with us, guiding and protecting us.

9) Thy rod and thy staff (v.4) - Shepherds carried staves with crooks in the end, and wooden rods (clubs). The staff was used as a means of safely grabbing a sheep going astray, while the rod was a symbol of authority, as well as a means of fighting off wild beasts that would try to attack the sheep.

10) Prepares a table before me (v.5) - This verse is promising a full feast set before us in the presence of the enemy. Our shepherd will watch and protect us as we feast on what He has provided

11) Head anointed with oil (5) - Perfumed oil was placed on the head before a feast in ancient times

12) Cup running over (v.5) - He promises that we will not only have enough, but we will have an abundance. Matthew 6:31-33 says Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? ³² (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. ³³ But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

God will always supply His sheep with what they need.

13) Goodness and mercy will follow (v.6) - God promises that His care and provision will be with us to the very end. In addition, His mercy and grace will always be with His sheep

14) I will dwell (v.6) - For those that are indeed sheep, we are promised that we will have a place in the Father’s house forever.

There is one other point I want to mention about sheep. We have all seen beasts of burden yoked to a wagon, plow, etc. How many have ever seen a sheep yoked to a plow? Or even a small cart? Why? Sheep were not designed to carry burdens, that’s why.

Matthew 11:28- 30 says ^{8 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.}

God did not design sheep to bear burdens. We are not designed to carry burdens, which is why Jesus tells us to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7), and to take care for nothing (Phil. 4:6). We are not designed to deal with stress and worry. Be a sheep, give the stress to the Good Shepherd!