Comfort

Shepherd Me

“Comfort”

August 11, 2019

Introduction

We are in the middle of our summer sermon series entitled, “Shepherd Me.” In this series, we are looking at .

Read Text (NKJV)

Today, we are going to look at v. 4. There are some things that we would rather not go through in life.

Illustration: Jury Duty (Grandmother excuses, funny excuses)

Another juror reported that he wouldn’t be able to serve due to a scheduling conflict. When pressed about the scheduling conflict, “I have to report to prison next week,” he said.

There are some thing that we would rather not go through in life. Verse 4 speaks to things that we would rather not go through in life — even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Last week, we talked about how sometimes in life we find ourselves in dark places. In life, we face trials, adversity, disappointments, dilemmas.

What trials and disappointments have you dealt with recently in life? What adversity are you facing right now in life?

(NLT) … Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.

We can’t avoid disappointments. We can’t sidestep adversity. (Repeat )

But here’s the good news. Verse 4 is not just about the dark places of life. In verse 4, we also find some incredible promises. We want to look at one of those promises this morning.

v. 4 — Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

The word “comfort” means to console, to show concern, to show love, to encourage. The Psalmist uses the image of the rod and staff to show how God comforts.

1. God comforts us with His protection.

Let’s start with the rod. The rod was a club like weapon that a shepherd used to protect the flock from animals that tried to kill the sheep.

But we need to understand the danger associated with the dark places of life.

v. 4: Evil equals danger.

Illustration: Beach Danger (Shark, Rip Currents)

When we find ourselves in the dark places of life, there is great danger for the believer. It’s in the dark places of life that our faith is most vulnerable. It’s in the dark places that Satan attacks our faith.

(NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

It’s during the dark places of life that Satan plants seeds of doubt. Does God really care about you? Does God really love you? It’s during the dark places of life that Satan plants seeds of blame. Why did God bring this adversity on you?

It’s during the dark places of life that Satan wants to destroy our faith.

It’s during the dark places one life that Satan tempts us to turn to other things to cope with our problems. For some, they drink their sorrows away. Others turn to drugs for a temporary escape. Some people to cope with their problem turn to “comfort food”, shopping sprees they can’t afford, or pouring themselves into work at the expense of family and rest.

Turn to these things to cope with our problems. — the dark places get darker. If we are not careful, we can fall from our faith and lose our way.

It’s during the dark places of life that Satan wants to destroy our faith

God wants to protect our hearts. God wants to protect our faith during difficult times.

(NKJV) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

(NLT) The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

God wants to protect our hearts and faith when we find ourselves in the dark places of life. We need to stick close to God.

(NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

God wants to protect our hearts and faith when we find ourselves in the dark places of life. We need to stick close to God.

. God wants to do the opposite. God wants to protect our faith.

What’s happened to us during the dark places of life? Do we stick close to God and allow God to protect us? Or does our faith falter? Have we ever lost our way during the dark places of life?

What happens when our faith falters? Look at point 2

2. God comforts us with His guidance.

With this point, we get to the shepherd’s staff or the shepherd’s crook. The shepherd’s crook was just big enough to fit around the neck of a grown sheep. The shepherd’s crook was just big enough to fit around the chest of a small lamb. If a sheep or lamb was getting off track, the shepherd could put the crook around the neck of the sheep or the chest of the lamb to nudge them back on the right path.

When we lost our way during the dark places of life, God nudges us to get back on the right track.

Another way the shepherd used the crook was when a sheep fell into a crevice, pit, or mud. The shepherd would take the staff or the crook and the lift the sheep back to safety.

When we fall in the dark places of life, God lifts us back up.

(NKJV) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps.

Illustration: Convoy on Causeway

When we find ourselves in dark places, there is danger that we get off track spiritually, there is danger that we fall, that our faith falters. But we have a shepherd who lifts us up and guides us through the dark places of life.

We don’t need a cowboy to herd to us. We need to a shepherd to lead us. God will lead us through the dark valleys. God will lead us through the dark places of life.

Conclusion

One of your hymns asked the question, “Does Jesus Care?” When we find ourselves in the dark places of life, does Jesus Care? When we face trials and adversity, does Jesus Care? When we face disappointments and dilemmas, does Jesus Care?

Does Jesus Care? Absolutely? His rod and thy staff they comfort us.

(NASB) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our afflictions.