Psalms 23 Shadow of Death

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 comfort Me.

He leads Me in paths of righteousness for His names sake.

Gods reputation is on the line. In His leading He only leads us in that which is good.

That which honors Him

Moses in the wilderness when Gods wrath was burning hot against the Israelites. Moses for your names sake that all nations think that you couldn’t bring your people into promise land.

Part 4

If there is one thing we can be sure of in this life it is the fact that we will walk through valleys. We will have hard times ahead. You can be sure of it. You may be thinking that’s right now.There is a world of difference between the child of God and the unbeliever when it comes to trials that we go through in life. We have a different worldview of this life and how it is to be spent but we also have a different power to be able to overcome that is not found within ourselves but rather is found only in God. It is his spirit who lives within us that enables us to continue on.

Read

Pray.

There is a shift a change of focus in this psalms as he goes from boasting in the care of his master to the sheep on the other side of the fence to communicating directly to the shepherd himself. And this portion must be looked at with the backdrop of the context.

Recap.

The process and time of year this period of time in which this portion of the psalm would be talking about

Sheep are timid creatures and dogs and wolves would cause the sheep to be scattered. I picture buddy and my goats.

So you can just imagine how they might act being led into a valley that makes them prone to the attacks and dangers of the wild.

To getting to higher ground in the summer.

The same God that purchased, shed his blood, made him a sheep of his pasture, makes him to lay down in green pastures, leads me beside the still waters, is the one that leads me into the valley.

Men through the Bible able to say blessed be the name of the Lord. Even in the midst of the storm. Growing in Christ.

The question then is not how bad, deep, dark, and long the valley will be but rather how will we respond in the midst of the valley?

Shadow of death: darkness, distress, extreme danger

It doesn’t end with the shadow of death. These things are never a dead end street game over for the child of God though sometimes we may treat them as such but it is just a mere passing through to better and higher ground. Whether this be death itself or the trials we find ourselves in.

tells us to count it all joy when we fall into various trials

The different perspective.

, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

Can’t even be compared to what’s in store

, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

The prophet that it brings.

, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Boasting in them for through his weakness he rest more in Christ.

I will Fear no Evil

Evil: adversity, affliction, distress, misery, injury, calamity

There is great profit to these valleys in our life though we may not fully understand at that time.

Valleys serve a purpose: They are not for the mere torture of entering and saying whoa that was scary and then leave. Rather the shepherd goes to great extent that even in the valleys we walk through serve a purpose that ultimately are for our good that lead us to the better grazing grounds. One that we never could have tasted and experienced had we not gone through the valley.

, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

He knows the number of hairs on our head.

We don’t have to be fearful if when we stand for God we suffer the recompense of man.

The bakers and photographers, school teachers

I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, Who have set themselves against me all around.

Who have set themselves against me all around.

David was a man well acquainted with grief yet still found great comfort and strength in the midst of his darkest trials.

Sometimes the hardest truth for us to learn is the fact that the God that allowed Job to be prosperous in his life is the same God that allowed satan to remove it from him.

We can see like God does from beginning to end and know the profit that may come from it and all the lives that would be comforted by the story of Job.

Or how about shadrach, meshack, and Abednego.God could have removed the fire could have given the king a heart attack but he was leading them in a path for that he may be glorified. Look the the wonder they were able to experience because they were faithful to him and all those that also have been encouraged by it.

The best part is God doesn’t leave us alone to fight these battles alone

How/ Why could he say I will fear no Evil?

Comfort: console, ease, comfort. The presence of the shepherd puts me at ease.

I just picture the story of Joshua leading the Israelites to the promise land. God telling the path and the difficulties of it but the promise that he will never leave him nor forsake him.

Look at how well the shepherd has provided for his sheep up to this point. He strategically planned and worked for the good grazing grounds. He led his sheep to the safe and clean waters that quenched their thirsts He restores them when they become cast.

Remember who he is and how he has been faithful. Even in the valleys he is there. Even in the dark, gloomy paths his guidance, and protection is there. The presence of my shepherd is what comforts me.

Just let that thought soak in. That the almighty creator, alpha and omega, beginning, and end, Jehovah God, says that he is with us. Who are we to be worthy of such great care.Too often we have the audacity or feel as though we have the right to shake our fist at God.

What amazes me, is what we do when we go through valley and at times make me even angry with my own stupidity. Often we don’t seek the comfort of the shepherd but rather:

Maybe the fellow sheep

They will not be able to lead you in the dark valley, except maybe off a cliff. They will not be able to protect you from the harm of those that wish to destroy you that lurk in the dark corners.

Many times we go to the passing pleasures of this world that help drown our problems. Whether that be alcohol, drugs, sex, work, or the purchasing of material good.

We are a generation that throw in the towel to quickly while in the fire, before we are purified by it to come out as precious gems.

The question that needs to be asked that would assure us of victory and peace in the dark, gloomy, valleys of our lives is not

NOT How many valleys will I have and what will they all entail?

NOT How dark will these valleys be?

But rather

Will I seek the shepherds presence for the comfort through the valley who knows what profit will come out of the valley rather that the passing pleasures of this world?Solomon tells us of all the things he sought to satisfy the heart of man under the sun and he found that all was vanity. But just a vapor. It was here and gone, leaving you with the desire of more. But in the end he says the whole duty of man is to fear God and obey his commands.

Life is to short for us to waste away our days in despair because we have allowed the valleys of life to control us rather that the rod and staff of our shepherd.

God doesn’t promise us a life with no trials for he tells us in , “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

What He promises is that He will be there all the while…LEADING THE WAY.