He Is with Me

2011-08-14 (am) He Is with Me

The first part of the Psalm teaches that because the Lord is our Shepherd, we can trust him. The Lord God, our Father in Heaven, our Good Shepherd is exactly who he says he is. He has repeatedly proven the quality of his person and character over all time and history.

God is the only person in the scriptures who is perfect. Even the really good guys have faults. Noah got drunk, Abraham lied, Jacob deceived, Moses killed, Sampson was weak, Saul wandered, David stole and murdered, Elijah doubted, Peter denied, Ananias and Sapphira lied, Saul persecuted, Paul had a thorn in his side. Israel was rarely faithful, but God never, ever let her go.

God proves his perfect character through his actions. Even the best people show their true character in how they act: a secular example is Tiger Woods. Ever since his true character came out, his performance has been terrible. He didn’t even make the cut this week. Once one of the most consistent players in golf, he is no longer.

God proves and demonstrates his perfect character in his actions in people’s lives. He proved himself most clearly in the incarnation of his Son, our Saviour. He continues to demonstrate his character and love through the Holy Spirit, residing in every believer.

The same Holy Spirit inspired David to express his trust in God when he wrote, “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.” It is because of who God is that gave David security, even in the face of death.

David faced death throughout his life, fighting against lions, bears, men. On several occasions, Saul suddenly tried to kill him, each time he narrowly escaped with his life! He also experienced the death of his best friend, Jonathan, his parents, his siblings, and the first son born to Bathsheba.

By God’s grace, David did not despair. He did not despair because he knew God and God’s perfect character. This knowledge helped him to see death as it really is, much like Elisha’s servant was able to see God’s army protecting them.

David teaches us four things about death in . First, David teaches us that death is nothing more than a shadow. A shadow has no substance. A snake’s shadow may bite, but no matter how ferocious, it is, it can cause no harm! Who ever heard of a bullet’s shadow causing any damage? For the believer, death does as much damage as a shadow can do. It can do nothing!

Second, we walk through the valley. Yes, it is deep, dark, dirty and difficult, but throughout the world, valleys are where life flourishes. Crops grow in the valley, where there is warmth and protection; mountaintops are barren and cold. Just as valleys are fruitful, so too is death for the believer, for it is the passage to God.

Third, David tells us that it is but a walk in the valley. It is not a run, or even a jog. Rather, it is a journey, a passage. Not so for the wicked; they are chased from this life where their souls are demanded of them. Saints, though, go from here to the next world.

Fourth, we go through, we don’t remain in the valley. This time is temporary. The pain, the suffering, the sorrows of this life are fleeting. They are all a series of events that take us through the valley to the feast on the other side.

Yes, David indeed walked in the shadow of death. We all do. Most recently, it shockingly reared its ugly head, stealing a life from us. Death has the reigning streak of all time. Only two people in known history have escaped it, Enoch and Elijah. Yes, there are accounts of many people who were raised from the dead, only to die again later. Even Jesus died.

And yet, where did David get his hope? Where did his help come from? David, looking forward to Jesus, saw that Jesus’ death would bring life. Job saw it too. He said, “I know my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself with see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me” ()!

Our hope, our yearning is the promise that death is a shadow, a valley, a walk and a passage through. The promise is in Christ who died and was raised again to life. He promises that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Whoever believes in the Son has, not will have, but has, eternal life. Whoever hears God’s Word, believes him who sent Jesus, has eternal life, and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. Whoever lives and believes in Christ will never die.

Because of Christ, we do not fear evil. “Death is a king of terrors”[1], but not to those who are in Christ. For, as Paul the apostle says, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” For the saint, death has no sting; it has no victory! From this truth, as proved by Christ’s resurrection, we can have great confidence especially in the face of death!

We can boldly say, “I fear no evil.” Death cannot separate us from God’s love, thus, it really can’t do anything to us! It kills the body, but doesn’t even come close to touching the soul. Why should we dread it, when there’s nothing hurtful in it? Have you ever dreaded going to the dentist only to realise afterward that it not was as bad as you feared? Death, when it comes, is not as bad as we imagine, here’s why.

We have God’s presence with us. The Good Shepherd leads and carries his sheep through the valley. When enemies press close in, disease, dangers, hardships, the death of loved ones, Jesus not only leads us; he comforts us when we need it most. His presence is our comfort. His word, his promises, his truth, his Spirit rests upon us, fills us, strengthens us.

The rod and the staff give comfort because they protect us. With the rod, he smashes our enemies. With his staff, he directs us. calls the gospel the rod of Christ’s strength. The gospel rules our lives. In it, we find not only salvation, but also the knowledge and direction we need for everyday life. Every day is a new day.

Every day is a new day dependent upon God, not us. The past is history; the future is yet to happen. The sins of the previous day are gone, done forgotten. In golf, each new tee box is a new chance, a new opportunity. The 8 strokes of the previous hole are but a memory, before you is a brand new fairway, a brand new chance to strike the ball true and clear. Every day is a new opportunity to allow the rod of Christ to rule in our lives. We strive, in everything, to conform to him, allowing him to work through us by his Holy Spirit.

God does all this for us, because of who he is. He is our faithful, loving, near, awesome God. His nearness, his love, his protection, his care continue uninterrupted. This is the truth; it is the facts of life in Christ.

The time to remind ourselves of this truth is always, especially now. This truth is truth that is outside of us, independent of us; it is true, whether we feel it or not. When David wrote this beautiful, true Psalm, was he simply stating facts, or reminding himself of the truth because at that moment he was feeling anything but the Shepherds presence?

You’ve experienced this, haven’t you? I know I have. It doesn’t even take a tragic event, but that is often the case. You feel like God isn’t near, that he doesn’t care. You feel anger at God for taking a loved one away.

It is okay, God is our great and good shepherd, is also our Father. What child hasn’t been angry with his or her father or mother? Did their anger change anything? Oh maybe there was some discipline, but there is also understanding. A child doesn’t know the plans of the parents. As God’s children, we don’t know all the plans of God. He’s given us everything we need to know, but the specifics he keeps from us, and that’s okay.

But God can certainly handle anything we might throw at him in anger, frustration, grief, pain, suffering, fear, whatever. He can handle it because he loves us as a Father. He knows it because of the Son’s experiencing far more than we will ever have to experience. Do not forget Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night Judas betrayed him. Do not forget Jesus’ crying out to the Father saying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus was forsaken, so that we will never be forsaken.

Sometimes all we have to do is remind ourselves of the truth and simply rest in the shelter of his wings. He is a strong tower. He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (). This isn’t merely, let go and let God, it is a, “I know who God is, I trust his character. I know he loves me, even, especially when I don’t feel it. I’ll just wait and trust. One day, maybe not now, I’ll look around and I’ll see, season has followed season, life, as Ethan, born to Jeroen and Cherise, has followed death, God’s promises are true yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Be comforted, congregation, for your God of comfort, your shepherd is with you. Be in the present, don’t worry about the past, and don’t worry about the future. Speak the truth from your mind, what you know is true, to your heart and be strong, be real. Amen.

[1] Matthew Henry’s Commentary on