May 25 & May 26, 2026; Jehovah Raah & Jehovah Mekoddishkem

Daily Dose of Hope May 25 and 26, 2026   Name of God for May 25  Jehovah-Raah – The Lord My Shepherd Scripture:  Psalm 23:1, 80:1, Genesis 48:15, Ezekiel 34:11-12, John 10:11-14, Revelation 7:17   Name of God for May 26 - Jehovah Mekoddishkem – The Lord Who Sanctifies You Scripture: Exodus 31:13 and Leviticus 20:8.   Prayer:  Holy God, Keep my heart humble and obedient to Your voice. Lead me along the right paths, and fill my cup until it overflows with Your goodness and unfailing love. In Jesus' name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope daily Bible reading plan.  I'm sorry that the Monday devotional did not get posted.  That was my mistake.  Thus, I'm combining Monday and Tuesday today.  We've been walking through the name of Gods in the Old Testament.  Today we will talk about Jehovah Raah, which means the Lord my Shepherd, and Jehovah Mekoddishkem, which can be translated the Lord who Sanctifies You.   Let's begin with Jehovah Raah the Lord my Shepherd.  Remember Jehovah is the Existing One or Lord. Raah means to shepherd or to feed.  Jehovah Raah is found in Psalm 23:1, in which David declares, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  David, once a shepherd himself, understood the deep responsibility of caring for his flock. He recognized that, just as sheep are entirely dependent on their shepherd, we are fully dependent on God. Jesus also identified Himself as our Shepherd in John 10:11 saying, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  He not only guides us but has given His life to bring us into eternal safety.   Sheep don't think about what they will eat next, there they will lay their head, or even how they will stay safe.  They simply trust their shepherd.  In that same way, Jehovah Raah invites us to trust Him totally and completely.  He knows what we need and He is already making a way for us.  Please know Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, is near and ready to care for us.  He will never leave you.   Jehovah Mekoddishkem is the Lord who Sanctifies.  Mekoddishkem (pronounced mek-uh-DISH-kem) derives from the Hebrew word qâdash meaning "sanctify," "holy," or "dedicate." Sanctification is the separation of an object or person to the dedication of the Holy. When the two words are combined – Jehovah Mekoddishkem – it can be translated as "The Lord who sets you apart" or "The Lord who Sanctifies."    We see this name of God twice in the Old Testament, the first instance in the book of Exodus 31:13, Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you.'  The institution of the Sabbath was a great instance of God's favor to His people, and a sign that he had distinguished them from all other people.  God, by sanctifying this day among them, let them know that he sanctified them, and set them apart for Himself.   We are to live fully and completely for God, be devoted to Him in every way.  We know sanctification as the lifelong process of becoming like Jesus in our thoughts, actions, and attitudes.  And while we have to participate in our sanctification, we can't accomplish it on our own – we need the power of the Holy Spirit.     Blessings, Pastor Vicki