Psalm 23 Pt 2 Yahweh is With Me
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Handout
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
Openning Illustration
Openning Illustration
W. Stillman Martin, a traveling evangelist, was accompanied by his wife, Civilla, who would sing and play music before and after his sermons. The couple befriended an older couple, the Doolittles. Mrs. Doolittle was bedridden with severe disabilities, while Mr. Doolittle, despite his own significant health issues, cared for his wife and managed their family business from a wheelchair. The Martins were struck by the Doolittles’ remarkable joy despite their hardships.
One day, Civilla asked Mrs. Doolittle, “Why are you so happy and content?” Mrs. Doolittle replied, “I was reading my Bible and came across the verse where Jesus says that not even a worthless sparrow falls from the sky without the Father in heaven knowing. When I thought about that, I realized if His eye is on the sparrow, then I know He’s watching over me.”
Inspired by these words, Civilla later wrote one of the most beloved hymns of the 20th century. It goes like this
Why should I feel discouraged?
Why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely
and long for heaven and home,
when Jesus is my comfort?
My constant friend is he:
his eye is on the sparrow,
and I know he watches me
Main Idea
Main Idea
He is our constant friend. Just as His eye is on the sparrow, we know that He watches over us, His sheep.
This thought captures the main idea of our second sermon in Psalm 23 - that we can trust God because He is our faithful companion. He does not just watch us from a far. As David puts it in our verse today, He is with us.
In every season, in any situation, whatever the circumstance, God is worthy of your trust…why? He is with us.
God is our Good Shepherd and He is always with His Sheep.
God is our Good Shepherd and He is always with His Sheep
The Text
The Text
Please stand with me as we read our text today Psalm 23:4. I will begin in verse 1 of Psalm 23,
1 Yahweh is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The Structure and Transition
The Structure and Transition
This morning I want to show you that there are three reasons of why we should trust our Good Shepherd as we venture into life’s shadowy valleys
1. He Leads Us Into the Valley
1. He Leads Us Into the Valley
First, We can trust trust our Good Shepherd as we venture into life’s shadowy valleys because He is the one leading us into them. He leads us into the valley.
The Text
The Text
Look with me at the first part of verse 4,
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil…
Inevitable Valleys
Inevitable Valleys
Charles
There’s a bad news and good news here, but you notice the bad news, there’s an inevitable reality here. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and I hate to break the news to you on the first day of a new year, but I got to tell you this is not a theoretical or hypothetical scenario. It’s a definite reality. If you keep going to bed at night and waking up in the morning, you’ll inevitably discover that life is not an unbroken mountaintop experience. \
The shadow of death is a Hebrew idiom for deep darkness. It envisions a situation that is so dark that it seems like death itself has eclipsed the light. And the text says that there are times when you’re going to have to walk through that valley of the shadow of death. It may be, it may be literal death, it may be disappointment, it may be distress, it may be discouragement, it may be difficulty, but every one of us has an appointment with life’s low points.
Psalms, Volumes 1 & 2 Psalm 23:4–6
Valleys are dangerous places because enemies can ambush from the high ground above them. The reference to the “valley of the shadow of death” calls up an image of a path through a low place, overshadowed by a high place from which the wicked could waylay travelers. Even in extreme danger the presence of Yahweh drives away fear.
Part of His Straight Path
Part of His Straight Path
Charles
There are times, loved ones, when the straight paths of the shepherd’s leadership take you through dark valleys.
Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary Psalm 23:4
The dark valley, or ravine, is as truly one of his ‘right paths’ as are the green pastures—a fact that takes much of the sting out of any ordeal. And his presence overcomes the worst thing that remains: the fear
It is important to note that “the valley of the shadow of death” is as much God’s right path for us as the “green pastures” which lie beside “quiet waters.” That is, the Christian life is not always tranquil nor, as we say, a mountain-top experience. God gives us valleys also.
Illustration - Jesus and the Storm
Illustration - Jesus and the Storm
Application — Trust in His Leadership
Application — Trust in His Leadership
How does knowing that Jesus leads us into life’s valleys help us to endure them?
Main Point Incorporation
Main Point Incorporation
God is our Good Shepherd and He is always with His Sheep as He leads us into the dark valleys.
2. He Leads Us Through the Valley
2. He Leads Us Through the Valley
Transition
Transition
The second reason we can trust trust our Good Shepherd as we venture into life’s shadowy valleys is because He leads us through them.
He leads us through the valley.
Through the Valley
Through the Valley
Charles
the good news is that your valley experience is just a layover. It ain’t the final destination. You’re not walking to the valley, you’re not walking in the valley, you are walking through the valley on your way home. This is why you got to look through the eyes of faith, because this is not Death Valley, it’s not the valley of death, it’s the valley of the shadow of death. The shadow of a dog can’t bite you, the shadow of a gun can’t shoot you, and the shadow of death cannot harm the child of God.
The Treasury of David, Volume 1: Psalms 1–26 Psalm 23:4
Some one has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is
The Treasury of David, Volume 1: Psalms 1–26 Psalm 23:4
Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Let us not, therefore, be afraid.
The Treasury of David, Volume 1: Psalms 1–26 Psalm 23:4
The worst evils of life are those which do not exist except in our imagination. If we had no troubles but real troubles, we should not have a tenth part of our present sorrows. We feel a thousand deaths in fearing one, but the Psalmist was cured of the disease of fearing. “I will fear no evil,” not even the Evil One himself; I will not dread the last enemy, I will look upon him as a conquered foe, an enemy to be destroyed
Application
Application
2. How does knowing that our journey through life’s valleys is only temporary help us to not lose hope?
Main Point Incorporation
Main Point Incorporation
God is our Good Shepherd and He is always with His Sheep as He leads us through the dark valleys.
3. He Is Present and He is Protective in the Valley
3. He Is Present and He is Protective in the Valley
Transition
Transition
The third reason we can trust trust our Good Shepherd as we venture into life’s shadowy valleys is because He is Present and He is Protective.
The Text
The Text
Let’s read verse 4 one more time
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
His Presence Brings Courage
His Presence Brings Courage
Notice David’s statement of faith here: I fear no evil…why?
for you are with me
Charles
David’s courage was not self-confidence, it was God-confidence. He was unafraid of the dangers lurking in the valley because he had a faithful companion who was present and prepared. Faith in God can chase your fears away. There is courage in the valley.
There are two types of God talk in Psalm 23, verses 1 through 3 talk about God in the third person, verse 4 now talks to God in the second person, for you are with me. Oh, church, it’s easy to talk about the Lord when you’re in green pastures and Bastille waters and on the path of righteousness, but you better learn how to talk to the Lord when you are in the valley of the shadow of death. In that valley there’s no reason to fear danger or death or the devil because the Lord is with you.
Not only is he with you, can I go even further to say this? The darker the valley, the closer to the Lord. Dale Ralph Davis said it is not that the Lord is closer in the valley, but that we realize in the valley how close he’s always been.
10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will make you mighty, surely I will help you; Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
Psalms, Volumes 1 & 2 Psalm 23:4–6
The Lord provides physically (23:2) and spiritually (23:3), and in
It is important to note that “the valley of the shadow of death” is as much God’s right path for us as the “green pastures” which lie beside “quiet waters.” That is, the Christian life is not always tranquil nor, as we say, a mountain-top experience. God gives us valleys also.
3. What is the difference between self-confidence and God confidence?
His Protection Brings Comfort
His Protection Brings Comfort
Charles
In the valley, he’s present and prepared. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The rod and the staff were the shepherd’s standard equipment. The rod was his club to fight off wild animals. The staff was his crook to keep his sheep nearby.
The staff represents sovereign authority. Psalm 2 verse 9 says that the Lord will break the nations with a rod of iron. And the staff represents divine support. When God sent Moses to go tell Pharaoh to tell his people, to tell Pharaoh to let his people go, Exodus chapter 4 verse 20 says all Moses went to Pharaoh with was the staff of God in his hand.All he had was a stick. But when he trusted God, that stick ended up being everything he needed, whatever he had to face.
Psalms, Volumes 1 & 2 Psalm 23:4–6
The shepherd’s rod and staff were his implements for disciplining, rescuing, and protecting his sheep. They could be used to dissuade a sheep from going to a dangerous place or to break the skull of the serpent. The Lord is with David, the Lord has his tools, and thus David feels comfort
Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary Psalm 23:4
The rod (a cudgel worn at the belt) and staff (to walk with, and to round up the flock) were the shepherd’s weapon and implement: the former for defence (cf.
Visual demonstration — You, me, your rod and Staff
Application — Do Not Fear
4. How does Jesus presence and protection with us in the valley take away our fear and give us comfort?
5. If you are one of Jesus’ sheep, are you ever alone?
Charles
What causes fear? Two things. A guilty conscience produces fear. Proverbs 28, verse 1 says it this way, the wicked flee where no one pursues. Yeah. A guilty conscience will make you run and ain’t nobody chasing you. But, but if it is not guilty-induced fear, there’s only one other explanation. A lack of trust. Proverbs 28, verse 1 begins, that the wicked flee when no one pursues, but it ends by saying, the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Main Point Incorporation
Main Point Incorporation
God is our Good Shepherd and He is always with His Sheep, present beside them, and able to protect them.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Transition
Transition
As we wrap things up this morning, let us think about what we have learnerd…
Summary
Summary
We can trust trust our Good Shepherd as we venture into life’s shadowy valleys because He is always with His Sheep.
He is with us as He leads us into life’s valley
He is with us as He leads through life’s valley
He is with us not in some abstract way, but He is present right beside us and He is able to protect us in life’s valleys
Argument and Application
Argument and Application
How big is your God? How worthy is He of your trust?
do you fear natural disasters? Does not the wind and the rain obey Him?
do you fear danger and harm from others? Do not fear those who can only hurt your physical body? Fear the One who controls the outcome of your body and soul
do you fear the inevitable circumstances of pain, loss, sickness, and death? Dear friend, remember, the Good Shepherd with be with you as He leads you through the darkest of these valleys.
Little children, learn to deeply trust Him now while life’s problems and trials are small, while the road is not is bumpy, when the walls of the valley aren’t as high.
Illustration of two people on an airplane
a person who is afraid the plane is going to crash
a sleeping baby
The Treasury of David, Volume 1: Psalms 1–26 Psalm 23:4
Thou art with me.” The little child out at sea in the storm is not frightened like all the other passengers on board the vessel, it is asleep in its mother’s bosom; it is enough for it that its mother is with it; and it should be enough for the believer to know that Christ is with him.
Gospel Connection
Gospel Connection
How do we know these things to be true? Our Good Shepherd has gone before us dear saints.
Here is the beauty of the resurrection of Chirst from the dead. Listen again to the words of Jesus from John 10,
14 “I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
16 “And I have other sheep, which are not from this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
17 “For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
18 “No one takes it away from Me, but from Myself, I lay it down. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Not only did He lay down His life for us, His sheep…
Not only does He know us intimately, and causes each of us to hear His voice so that we can each call Him my Shepherd…
But He laid down His life so that He would take it up again
death had no power over Him
He paid the deathly price for sin with His body and His blood
He got the receipt saying that He paid it all — that our ransom price was fully paid
He said it is finished
And three days later He walked out of the rocky door of His grave
In His life He went through every valley we might go through in ours…
He experienced pain.
He experienced suffering.
He experienced betrayal and abandonment from those closest to Him.
Even though there is no explicit mention of Joseph’s death we can presume that Jesus went through the death of His earthly adopted father.
He went through the loss of His closest relative John the Baptist.
He had to see the toll of grief and loss as He comforted Mary and Martha after the loss of their brother, His friend, Lazzarus. John records in His gospel that in that dark valley, Jesus wept.
He experienced the weight and the burden of sin, not of His own, but of ours which was placed on Him
And then He experienced death itself.
Dear friend since all this is true? Will you not trust Jesus the Good Shepherd? Trust Him to forgive your sins and Trust Him by following Him wherever He takes you. He’s been through every valley Himself, and He will be with you in every valley you yourself will go through,
even the last dark valley of death itself.
The Final Valley
The Final Valley
Only He can lead you home through death valley. All other friends and family must turn back. But you will not travel alone.
As Spurgeon put it, “We go through the dark tunnel of death only to emerge into the light of immortality. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it.”
