The Shadow of Weakness

INTRODUCTION:

Today’s sermon is on one of the most well known and memorized passages of Scripture in the Old Testament.

Usually when people read Psalm 23 it’s at a funeral. That’s interesting because Psalm 23 has little to do with death or dying.

While Psalm 23 doesn’t address death is does address the main focus of this series which is fear, anxiety and mental anguish.

It’s one of many Psalms written by King David. It was probably written near the end of his life as he looked back on the Lord’s kindness in every season.

People love Psalm 23. It’s beautifully designed, eloquently written and offers comfort and peace to a heart that’s discouraged.

Comfort in the Valley

When you’re in the midst of a dark valley you need a vision of the other side to get you through to the end.

The title of the message is “What If I Can’t Make It Through?”

That’s the question many people ask after the death of somebody they love.

Or after the person/thing you depended on is taken from you.

It’s also a question people ask after a bad breakup

Maybe you asked it after the loss of a job/source of income.

I’ve asked this question in seasons where my challenges outweighed my resources and abilities.

Those days when we tell ourselves “You just don’t have what it takes” are the days in which we need to remember, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” (Ps 23:1)

In seasons of uncertainty, discouragement and doubt we need a vision of something certain, hopeful and good.

Psalm 23 gives us that vision and offers comfort for each of those seasons.

Unfortunately the word comfort has taken on connotations of consolation or a kind of therapeutic softness. The original concept was to “make strong together.”

It comes from two latin word “confortare which is a combination of “con” (meaning with/together) and “fortis” (meaning strong/strength).

It’s also where we get our english word “fortify.”

So a comforter is someone who comes alongside of you to make you strong in seasons of weakness.

Psalm 23 makes the audacious claim that the one who gives us that strength is God himself.

Psalm 23:1–6 CSB

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Multiple Translations

One of the reasons I love the CSB is because of how it translates OT & NT narratives so that they’re much easier to read and understand.

One of the reasons I don’t love the CSB is because of they changes it makes to passages I’ve memorized in the ESV or a similar translation!

That being said, one of the great practices in studying the Bible is reading a passage in different translations to see where the important words are and other literary features.

So let’s read the Psalm one more time in the ESV (which many of you have memorized and is close to the classical language of the NKJV).

Psalm 23 ESV

A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Sheep Need a Shepherd

Ever since becoming a land owner I’ve become a shepherd of four precious sheep and one naughty ram. (and 4 more if you count the babies)

Once I get into something new I usually invest hours and hours into the subject until I have some degree of confidence.

As a newly appointed shepherd of my little flock I dove into research mode and started to learn as much as a could about caring for sheep.

David- being the expert shepherd he was - pretty well summarizes the main job of a shepherd in taking care of his sheep.

Feed the sheep.

Lead the sheep.

Keep the sheep safe.

Bring the lost sheep home.

Weakness & Dependence

A lot of people think the Bible refers to us as sheep because sheep are so dumb.

Certainly, they’re unintelligent. There’s no doubt about that.

But the Bible doesn’t call us sheep because stubborn or dumb. The Bible calls us sheep because we’re dependent on a shepherd.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for survival. Without the shepherd, they don’t just struggle; they die.

They wander into danger without a second thought.

They don’t have claws to fight against predators.

They don’t have speed to outrun danger.

And they don’t have the intelligence to find their own food or water.

If left to themselves, sheep will eat the same patch of grass until it is barren.

They’ll drink from disease-ridden waters with no thought of the consequence.

Sheep will not survive without a shepherd because they are dependent on their shepherd to give them what they need.

The shepherd keeps them in front of green pastures and still waters.

The shepherd leads them in good paths so they don’t get lost.

The shepherd keeps them from enemy threats with a rod and his staff.

The shepherd brings the wandering sheep back home when they’re lost.

THE LORD MY SHEPHERD

Psalm 23 opens with the awesome declaration that our good shepherd is the Great “I AM.”

It’s one of the most compelling and powerful declarations in Scripture:“The LORD is my Shepherd.”

If you’ve been with us for a few years you’ll know the word translated LORD is the Hebrew “Yahweh.” It’s the covenant name of God revealed to Moses in the burning bush.

God told Moses “I am who I am.” The LORD is the ground of all being. He alone is uncreated, eternal and independent of any other thing for his existence.

He doesn’t “become” because he always is, has been and evermore will be.

Throughout history people have wondered why there’s something rather than nothing and the nature of a God who could bring order out of chaos.

Plato called him the unmoved mover. Other traditions have likewise focused on his transcendence, grandeur and otherness from his creation.

Make no mistake. God is ALL of those things and more. He is holy, holy, holy, LORD God Almighty.”

But the LORD has also revealed himself as “Shepherd.” Which means God is personal, loving, compassionate and near.

He didn’t wind up this universe so he could walk away from it. He created this world so he come and dwell “with us.” Not as peer but as our provider. Our LORD and our Master.

What follows in Psalm 23 is how the Lord comforts us as a shepherd. He feeds, he leads and he keeps the sheep of his pasture.

The Lord Feeds Us

First, the LORD our shepherd “feeds us.”

Imagine for a moment that you are a sheep. What would your biggest concern be?

Would it be whether or not your wool is fluffy enough?

Would it be the nutritional difference between different types of grass?

Would it be getting promoted to head sheep of the flock? Of course not.

Your primary concern as a sheep would be where your next meal is coming from and whether or not you are safe.

That phrase, “I shall not want,” doesn’t mean that God gives us everything we desire. It means we will lack nothing we need.

So our first key truth this morning is about God’s provision.

Truth #1: “The LORD gives me what I need.”

There is no need that our shepherd can’t meet.

As with most of the Psalms, the theological principle is illustrated with compelling imagery.

Green Pastures / Still Waters

David uses the metaphor of green pastures and still waters.

Psalm 23:2 CSB

2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.

ESV translates “lets me” as “makes me.” The Hebrew word actually conveys the idea of “being caused to lay down “

As you can see from the picture a sheep laying down in green grass is a picture of total contentment. I see it with my sheep from time to time.

They sit there dipping their head down eating grass too lazy to even stand up because the grass is within reach and they’ve not a care in the world.

The reason sheep need a shepherd is because they’ll never find green pastures without help.

They’ll eat a patch a grass to the dirt and eat rocks before figuring out how to move on to something better.

This would especially be true for sheep in the Middle East. It was a mostly arid dessert region that had green pastures and still waters sparsely spread out in specific locations. The sheep needed the shepherd to take them to those places.

The same is true for still waters. Sheep won’t drink from fast-flowing water.

They’re skittish and afraid. A rushing stream feels too dangerous for them to get close.

The shepherd must find calm, clean pools where the sheep can safely drink without fear.

The shepherd takes responsibility to lead them to that place of material provision.

If you’re taking notes the shepherd can meet every material need.

There’s a temptation to think we can provide for ourselves in seasons of uncertainty, discouragement or doubt.

But that approach rarely takes us to green pastures and still waters. We find ourselves with a hunger we cannot satisfy or a heart that’s never content.

That’s what we need to put our eyes on the shepherd. He knows what we need even before we do.

Restores My Soul

But the shepherd also meets immaterial needs.

Psalm 23:3 CSB

3 He renews my life;

ESV: “He restores my soul.”

In Hebrew, the phrase literally means “He brings my soul back”—as if something has been lost or depleted, and God is putting it back where it belongs.(Ills: phone fully charged. 4 bars)

This isn’t just about physical needs. It’s about the deepest places of our hearts—

the wounds that have never really healed,

the weariness that never finds real rest,

the grief that never seems to fade,

the discouragement that clouds out the sun,

the emptiness that nothing else can fill.

Application

I have no doubt that some of you have exactly those kind of needs this morning.

Some of you feel spiritually dry, as if you’ve been wandering in a wilderness, longing for God to feel close again.

Some of you are struggling emotionally, weighed down by discouragement or uncertainty.

And some of you are grieving—not over the loss of a person, but over the loss of what has been.

It may feel like the pastures are drying up, the water is running low, and the journey ahead is uncertain. What can you do?

APPLICATION #1: I Will Look to the Good Shepherd!

Your shepherd knows exactly what you need and is willing to meet those needs according to his abundant provision.

Even when the landscape changes. He knows how to restore what has been lost.

He knows what we need before we even ask. He knows when we are hungry, when we are weary, when we are empty.

Trust that He is leading us somewhere good—even if we can’t see the full picture yet.

Trust His pastures are green, even if they’re different from what’s familiar.

Trust His waters are waiting, even if we feel like we’re in the dessert.

The Lord Leads Us

The Lord feeds us. But that’s not all. We also see in Psalm 23 that the LORD our shepherd leads us.

When the green pastures fade and the water dies up, we need a shepherd who will guide us to where we need to go.

Psalm 23:3–4 CSB

3 … he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me;

Key Truth #2: The Lord Guides Me Where to Go.

The thing about the Lord’s leadership is that it’s always available but never forced.

It reminds me of a proverb I heard from an old man at a gun show. I was trying to sell one gun for another but was being haggled on my asking price. The guy was super aggressive and pushy. I was about to cave when another old man watching it go down put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Son, the LORD leads but the devil pushes.”

In other words, any spirit that is pushing you or forcing you into something probably isn’t coming from the LORD.

ILLS: The shepherd walks in front of the sheep. The butcher pushes them from behind.

The LORD offers his assistance but always as in invitation. He never forces his grace on anybody, ever.

Our needs are met as we look to the LORD and receive his guidance as a thing worth having.

The ESV translates “darkest valley” as “the valley of the shadow of death.”

I love the language of a shadow. For you to be in the shadow of something you’ve got to be close. There’s nothing closer than a shadow.

But David says “even though I’m surrounded by this death shadow I’m still not afraid. Why? Because something even greater than the shadow is even closer to my side.

I will fear no danger because you’re with me!

The light of the Lord’s presence gives us confidence and comfort for even the darkest valley.

Right Paths

When we follow the Lord’s guidance two promises are made.

1.) He’ll lead you down “right paths” for the sake of his name.

2.) He will be fully present for every step of the way.

The phrase “paths of righteousness” literally means the right paths.

That doesn’t just mean moral righteousness, though that’s certainly included.

It means God leads His sheep in the paths that are best for them. The paths are good paths. Paths in which God works everything together for good.

That’s important, because sheep are directionally challenged.

If left to themselves, they will wander into danger, get stuck in places they can’t escape from, and sometimes even walk straight off a cliff.

How many times have we wandered into something we thought would be good for us but turned out to be bad?

Our ways might be shorter and less painful but that doesn’t mean our way is right.

A shepherd doesn’t let sheep choose their own path. He makes a path straight FOR THEM.

Sake of His Name

But not only does he lead us down a right path. He does so for the “right reason.” It’s for “his name’s sake.”

The good leadership of our shepherd isn’t for the sake of our success, convenience or glory. It’s so that the world might see the goodness and glory of the LORD.

Not to us LORD, to YOUR name be the glory. “for His name’s sake.”

God’s leadership in our lives isn’t just about us—it’s about His glory.

He leads us because He is faithful. His plans are good because they’re for HIS glory. Our world is bigger than us. It belongs to God and so do we and our futures.

Which means sometimes - we even have to do things we might not want to do. We have to do things in the way we might not rather do them. But God is getting glory through it all.

Fully Present

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

This is one of the most well-known lines in all of Scripture, but let’s make sure we understand it clearly.

The phrase “valley of the shadow of death” is a Hebrew expression for a place of deep darkness, uncertainty, and potential danger.

David isn’t necessarily talking about literal death. In Israel, there are actual valleys where shepherds would have to lead their sheep.

These valleys were narrow ravines with steep cliffs, filled with shadows and hidden threats.

Predators lurked in the darkness. Thieves waited to attack. The path itself was treacherous.

The sheep would have no way of knowing where to step safely. But the shepherd knew and the shepherd was always with his sheep.

Every Step

The Lord is “fully present” for every step of the journey.

Sometimes, God’s path for us isn’t what we expected. There are transitions, uncertainty and change.

But we never walk alone. God goes with us every step of the way.

The LORD doesn’t say, “I’ll meet you on the other side of the valley.” He says, “I will walk through it with you.”

And that’s why David could say: “I will fear no danger.”

Not because the valley wasn’t real.

Not because the danger wasn’t present.

But because the Shepherd was.

So what do we do? We follow Him.

APP #2: I Will Follow The Good Shepherd.

Because the Shepherd knows what He’s doing. And He will never lead His sheep where His presence will not go.

Even when we don’t know the way.

Even when the path looks different than we expected.

Even when we feel afraid.

The Shepherd Keeps Us

But it gets even better than that. Not only does the Lord feed his sheep and lead his sheep.

David also explains the grace of God is “keeping” his sheep.

Psalm 23:4–5 ESV

4… your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

These images seem to shift from that of sheep and shepherd to that of a king in the royal court.

Another reason to think David wrote this near the end of his life looking back on both.

As with shepherding, the metaphors are packed with meaning and insight.

The main idea of all of them is that God keeps his people by guarding them and securing them against every enemy threat.

Key Truth #3: The LORD Guards Me From My Enemies.

Let’s break down each of these images. The first is comfort we receive from the shepherd’s rod and staff.

The Rod: Protection

The rod was a short, club-like weapon, often carved from a sturdy branch or even embedded with iron.

Shepherds used the rod as a tool of defense. It was not used against the sheep, but against the enemies of the sheep.

When wolves, lions, or bears threatened the flock, the shepherd would swing the rod to drive them away.

If necessary, he would throw it with precision, striking an attacker to protect his sheep.

This is why David himself, as a young shepherd, was confident he could defeat Goliath. He had already used his rod and staff to kill lions and bears while tending his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:34-36).

You do not have to fight your battles alone.The Shepherd fights for you.He keeps you safe from enemies you don’t even see.

The LORD our shepherd “protects” our life.

The Staff : Preservation

The next image is that of a shepherds staff. A shepherd’s staff was a long, curved stick—often with a crook at the end.

While the rod was a weapon of protection, the staff was an instrument of correction and care.

It was used to guide the sheep, gently pulling back onto the main path. It would also nudge them along if they stopped moving.

It was used to rescue sheep in a precarious position. (stuck in a thicket, ditch or on rocky terrain.

It would also protection the sheep. Longer than the rod it would intimidate predators from coming towards the sheep.

As a result of these things, sheep came to recognize both the rod and the staff as a symbol of comfort because it channeled the loving care of the shepherd.

So not only does our shepherd protect us. He also preserves our lives.

The Oil – Priority

This seems to be the symbolism of the oil as well. “You anoint my head with oil.”

Sheep were constantly attacked by insects and parasites—especially around their heads.

Flies would lay eggs in their nostrils, leading to severe irritation and even disease.

To protect them, shepherds would anoint their sheep’s heads with oil, creating a barrier that repelled pests and kept infections from spreading.

Oil is often a symbol of God’s presence and the Holy Spirit. It was a sign of God’s anointing or selection. (Psalm 133:2, Isaiah 61:1)

David had his head anointed by the prophet Samuel as a prophetic sign that God had chosen him to be the next king of Israel.

So just as oil protects the sheep from infection and disease so also does God’s Holy Spirit keep us and enable us to persevere in the faith.

The Table: Peace

But the oil might also have connotations beyond sheep and shepherds. The oil might’ve referenced a kingly anointing that was given by God.

This is suggested by what precedes the oil in verse 5:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

This is an obvious change in metaphors. We’ve gone from the field to the palace. From sheep to warrior kings.

In ancient times, when a king wanted to show absolute security, he would prepare a feast even while surrounded by enemies.

Instead of hiding in fear, he would sit down and eat—because he knew his victory was already assured. The enemies might be near, but they had no power to stop what was happening.

Even in the middle of a battle, God provides for us. Even when we feel surrounded by difficulty, God grace is more than enough.

This is a picture of God’s ultimate triumph over every force that opposes His people. Future threats - of ANY KIND - are powerless before the Shepherd.

Surrounded by opposition, we still have His peace.

APPLICATION

Psalm 23 does not promise that we won’t face trials. But it does promise that through every trial, God will keep us:

He will protect us with his rod.

He will preserve us with his staff.

He will anoint us with his oil and sustain us with his peace.

And because of that, we can trust Him.

APP #3: I will trust the good shepherd.

No matter what happens next, you are still in His hands.

So don’t be afraid. The Shepherd who keeps you today will keep you tomorrow. And He will never let you go.

CONCLUSION:

We’ve seen so far that the Lord feeds us, leads us, and keeps us.

But Psalm 23 doesn’t end in the valley. It doesn’t end with struggle. It ends with a promise of arrival, a destination, a home.

David concludes the psalm like this: Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23:6 CSB

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

This is the ultimate promise of the Shepherd. Not only does He guide us through the valleys and protect us from danger, but He also brings us home to the Father’s House.

Key Truth #4: The LORD guarantees my salvation.

Let’s take a closer look at what David is saying here.

Goodness and Mercy Follow Us

David says, “Surely goodness and faithful love shall follow me all the days of my life.”

The word “only” means certainty. David isn’t guessing. He isn’t hoping. He is confident that this is true.

But notice something interesting—David doesn’t say that he follows goodness and loving kindness. He says that goodness and loving kindness follow him.

The Hebrew word for “follow” isn’t passive.

It’s an active pursuit. A better translation would be “chase me down” or “pursue me.”

Think about that.

God’s goodness (His provision, His care, His blessings) actively chases after us.

God’s mercy (His forgiveness, His grace, His compassion) pursues us every day of our lives.

No matter what you’ve done. No matter where you’ve been. No matter how many times you’ve failed.

God’s mercy is chasing you.

God’s goodness is running after you.

This is the testimony of every believer—we do not hold onto God because of our strength; He holds onto us because of His grace.

Dwelling in the House

But David doesn’t stop there. He ends with the ultimate promise:

“I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

This is more than just poetic language. In the Old Testament, the “house of the LORD” referred to the temple—the place where God’s presence dwelled.

But David isn’t talking about a temporary visit to the temple. He’s talking about a permanent home in the presence of God.

He’s talking about eternal life and salvation.

And in that way, Psalm 23 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

In John 10:11, Jesus said:

“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

More than bread and water we needed atonement for our sin. Jesus gives us what we need.

More than maps and general directions we needed a guide who would walk with us along the way. Jesus makes that kind of relationship possible.

Jesus protects us, preserves us and sustains us by his grace.

And Jesus doesn’t just provide for us in this life—He brings us all the way home to the Father’s house.

Are You Following?

So the question is: Are you looking to Jesus as your good shepherd? Are you following and trusting him?

You were made for the Father’s house. The only way home is through Jesus.

The Shepherd became the Lamb so he could make atonement for our sins.

Three days later than slain lamb rose from the grave.

That means the valley is not the final destination.

Jesus took the substance of death on the cross so that death would be but a shadow for God’s people.

This is not the end. This is just a step in the journey toward the Father's house.

And the Shepherd is still leading. So the question is: Are you following Him?

If you have never trusted Jesus as your Good Shepherd, today is the day to follow Him.

If you are weary from the journey, today is the day to rest in Him.

If you are afraid of what’s ahead, today is the day to trust that He is bringing you home.

Because the Lord is our Shepherd. And He never loses His sheep.