Psalm 23 part 4

Psalm 23:4 NKJV

4 Yea, 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.

In VS 3

1. He leads us in the paths of righteousness. But the paths are not always easy.

a. Path of righteousness do not protect us from the valley, but it is the Lord who leads us through the valley.

b. It is important that we do not compare righteousness with ease. To stand for what is right will cost you. The path to the peace of God, the righteousness of God, and the holiness of God will always lead through the valleys of tribulation.

c. It is through these valleys, hard times of struggles and difficulty that moves us to where He wants is to be.

2. Remember, David as a boy David was the shepherd of his father’s flock. Depending on the time of year would move his sheep from one place to another.

a. In the spring time the sheep would gaze down near the Jordan River, but when the summer time came the shepherds would turn their flocks to the highlands, towards the hills where the temperatures were cooler and the grass was more plentiful.

b. Not far from Jericho, there is a deep valley that runs up towards Jerusalem, known as the valley of the shadow of death. It is about 4 ½ miles long and as deep as 1,500 ft. There are some places in the valley that are only about 12 to 14 ft wide.

c. Elab 2 flocks could not pass going the different directions. One way in the morning and the other in the evening.

There are 3 important characteristics that are helpful to understand this valley.

Difficult:

1. It’s not a gentle rolling meadow. It is a deep and narrow canyons with some of the harshest terrain imaginable.

a. The valley floor is rough and uneven; there are deep potholes that have been carved out by rain. It is not smooth, it I not level and the way is difficult.

b. A lot of times life is like that. We have to go through narrow, confining place where the ground is dangerous and unpredictable and we must watch every step we take.

The valley is depressing.

Death: Shade of death. It implies darkness or gloom

1. The valley itself is so narrow and deep so not a lot of sum light gets in. A lot of darkness.

a. We may walk through valleys where it seems like the darkness seems so real. It may seem like the shadows of defeat and failure hang over you; as though the very shadow itself is closing in around you.

b. Even though the valley is dark, and gloomy, and can be depressing. It is passable.

2. He said he would walk through it, but he didn’t give in to it. The valley was dangerous, but the Shepard would guide the sheep through it.

a. When God guides you through the valley, He is eliminating your fear. David says, “I will fear no evil: for thou art with me

b. It is in this valley where our faith is built and proved.

c. It is this valley that God teaches us and builds our character. If we are going to be like Christ we are going to have to go through more of what Christ experienced and encountered.

.d Christ did not avoid suffering. He was not exempt from loneliness. He was not free from trials and tribulations.

e. We have to be prepared for the valley.

David said “ I fear no evil”

3.God never intended for the believer to be ruled and troubled by fear. David doesn’t deny the fact evil exists-he simply refuses to fear it.

a. How? Because he that the power of God in more powerful than anything that may come against us.

No matter what we face God is with us.

Relay on God’s protection.

“thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”

4.We don’t have a lot of need for a rod and staff today. But they were very critical tools for shepherding.

a. The rod was a heavy stick with a knot or root in the end of it. The shepherd could throw it. Elab

b. The staff. Elab on what it looks like. Elab on how the shepherd uses it.

c. Sheep were in the protection of the Shepard, He would get them through the valley.

d. The sheep would become fearful, but when they saw the Shepard, their fear would turn to comfort.

When we fear, we need to remember, the Lord is our Shepard, He is there.

Fear and anxiety will fade away if we (Hymn) “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full into His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace”