Psalm 23

We come today to do one of the most unnatural things in the world. There really are no words to convey the depth of pain and loss that we feel during the death of a child.

I heard it said once that there is a word for losing a spouse: widowed. There is a word for losing a parent: orphaned. But there is no word for a parent who loses a child. This is one of the most difficult things we will encounter as human beings.

And yet, God, in His immense wisdom, gave us examples of people in the Bible - men and women just like you and me - who walked through this same experience.

In the Old Testament, we are told about a man named David. You may be familiar with David’s story as a young man when he faced off with a giant named Goliath. But that’s not where David’s story ends. In fact, David goes on to become a beloved king of God’s People, Israel. In fact, God even called David a man after God’s own heart.

King David experienced the loss of a child.

Psalm 23 CSB

A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

The Lord is the Shepherd who guides, vv. 1-3.

Look at the Lord’s gentle guiding.

I have what I need.

He lets me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside quiet waters.

He renews my life.

He leads me along the right paths.

The Lord is the Shepherd who protects, v. 4.

Even when I go through the darkest valley (you might have heard this as “the valley of the shadow of death”). Right now, this might feel like the darkest valley you could possibly walk through. Again, David knew what it was to be where you are now. He experienced this same pain. What did he say about it? “I fear no danger, for you are with me.”

David was certain that Almighty God was with Him.

The Bible has some other words for us:

Psalm 34:18 CSB

18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he saves those crushed in spirit.

Matthew 5:4 CSB

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

The Lord is the Shepherd who provides, vv. 5-6.

You provide a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

Consider this for a minute. The idea here is of a big feast. You’d be there for a while. If your enemies are around, it’s not usually the best time to sit down and eat. And yet, because he knew the Lord guides and protects, even on the worst of days, he could sit down and eat in peace.

You anoint my head with oil.

In the Old Testament, the picture of anointing someone with oil, or pouring oil over their head, was a sign of blessing.

My cup overflows.

Again, a sign of blessing. When David considered his life, he sees that the Lord has blessed him beyond measure. His cup overflows.

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life.

David experienced many struggles in his life. Yet, he remained convinced that God’s hand of blessing did not leave him.

I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

David knew that his security was in the Lord. He had faith - a trust - in the Lord that, no matter what happens in this life, he was secure.

Do you have the same confidence today? Do you know the God of King David? The God who comforted David even as he walked through the darkest valley?

The Bible tells us that God made us for relationship with him. But because of sin - a word the Bible uses to describe how we walked away from God’s plans for us - we are separated from Him. The Bible also says that our sin deserves death - not only physical, but eternal spiritual death in a place called Hell. But, the Bible also says that God sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life that we could not live, and to die the death we deserved in our place, so that we could be reconciled - brought back into a right relationship with God. If we will only place our faith and trust in Jesus as Lord (boss) and Savior.

See, David’s comfort didn’t come from his own goodness or right living (he made a LOT of really big mistakes). His comfort came because he trusted in God. And God did what He promised to do - He comforted David.

You can place your faith and trust in the God of David this morning.

Lord Jesus, my life is broken — I realize it’s because of my sin. I need you.

I believe that Christ came to live, die, and was raised from the dead — to rescue me from my sin.

Forgive me. I turn from my selfish ways and put my trust in You.

I now that Jesus is Lord of all, and I will follow you.

Philippians 4:7 CSB

7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.