Walking Through The Valley

LESSON:   PSALM 23 #3

Walking Through The Valley of the Shadow of Death

(with the Shepherd)

INTRO:       David begins Psalm 23 in sheep’s voice “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want and ends

 it with “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”.

With God as our Shepherd, we too should think and speak with the same confidence.

But today we enter the valley between these two peaks- the “Valley of the shadow of death.”

It then it not coincidental to find the words here:

      1)In the past - God provides our every need.

      2)In the future- eternal life with God Himself.

I.    THIS VALLEY WAS A REAL PLACE

      A.   ILLUST: Description

      B.   We Have Our Real Valleys Too:

            1.   We may have loneliness, disappointments, death of others, death to face ourselves.

            2.   Ours may be long periods of sickness, hopelessness, despair, poverty.

II.   IN THIS AWFUL PLACE THE WORD IS STILL “I WILL NOT FEAR “                                                        

      A.   This is the nightingale of Psalms. “The nightingale sings when the night is darkest.”

      B.   I will not fear:

            1.   Life (may have phobias)

            2.   Death

            3.   The next life

            4.   ILLUST: Freed From Fear of Death

      C.  Fear, As A Way Of Life, Comes From Experiences

            1.   Real or perceived(some are timid folks0

            2.   Storms, Train Wreck, etc.

      D.  Confidence Comes From A Sound Track Record:

            1.   “You are with me” is all we need!

                   a.   Notice, the change of “pronouns”. When a person comes to know God personally, the death barrier is shattered

                   b.   Psa. 37:25- why fear now?

                   c.   Psa. 46:1,2- always a help in trouble.

            2.   You are well-equipped to help:

                   a.   With his staff or club, you keep danger away from me the sheep

                   b.   With you rod or crook, you keep me away from danger.

                   c.   ILLUST: Depends On Whose Hands

            3.   Since God knows our makeup and our needs:

                   a.   He does not laugh at our fears

                   b.   63 verses in the Bible say 'Fear not”

CONCLUSION

On a wall in a cellar in Cologne, Germany, where Jews hid from Nazis, there was found an inscription. The anonymous author who perished with his fellow victims left behind these words, "I believe in the sun even when it’s not shining. I believe in love even when not feeling it. I believe in God even when he is silent."

 Trust God in good times and bad times. His reputation shouts, “You can have confidence in Me, in every situation.” His track record is perfect. Trust Him.

ILLUSTRATIONS USED IN THIS LESSON

Description. A Basque Shepherd describes the Valley in these terms: South of Jericho Rd leading from Jerusalem to Dead Sea. Sidewalls- 1500 ft. in places; length- 41/2 miles, Width- 10-12 feet at bottom, grade slope- 2700 ft a.s.l. to 400 ft. bsl

Freed From Fear of Death This is one of those cases where we can delve into the “how” and not just the fact of.

Fear of death robs many a person of life while he lives. It robs him little by little taking away precious sleep, peace of mind and inserts insecurity.

Dying is not, for most, to be feared, it is what lies beyond. So the real fear is of the unknown: “What will I feel, see, think?”

Here’s what God does for His people:

1) Heb. 2:14,15- Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death

2) I Cor. 15:56,57 -The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ

3) I John 5:13- I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life 

Depends On Whose Hands

A basketball in my hands is worth about $19

A basketball in Shaquille O’Neal’s hands is worth about $19 million a year.

It depends whose hands it’s in....                                         

A sling shot in my hands is a kid’s toy

A sling shot in David’s hand is a mighty weapon.

It depends whose hands it’s in...

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.

Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in the hands of Jesus will feed thousands

It depends whose hands it’s in

Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse

Nails in the hands of Jesus hands bring salvation for the entire world.

It depends whose hands it’s in