The Valley of the Shadow of Death

The Valley of the Shadow of Death

Text: Psalm 23:3–4 (KJV 1900)

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Introduction:

The death of my father

* On November the 2, I received a call from my mother that my father was dying.

* I called Debbie and asked her to meet me at the hospital, Dad was dying.

* I got to the hospital and ran to the bedside of my dear father. As I got there Dad was taking his last breaths upon this earth.

* I sat by the head of the bed and held my father’s had and placed my hand under his head.

* My father asked his sister and I to help him sit up so he could take his last breath. We raised my father up in the bed and he took his last breath of air. There were no more words to every come from his lips again.

* I father took a struggled breath, looked straight forward, and his eyes widened and they never blinked again.

* I held my father’s head and hand until his spirit left his body. His eyes remained wide open and never closed again. He looked as if he was shocked that death had really come.

John Bunyan’s description of the valley of the shadow of Death

Many have spoken of it; but none can tell what the Valley of the Shadow of Death should mean until they come in themselves. To be here is a fearful thing.

“The Valley it self … is as dark as pitch: we also saw there Hobgoblins, Satyrs, and Dragons of the Pit: We heard also in that Valley a continual howling and yelling, as of a People under unutterable misery; who there sat bound in affliction and Irons: and over that Valley hangs the discouraging cloud of confusion, death also doth always spread his wings over it: in a word, it is every wit dreadful, being utterly without Order.”

I. We must all walk through the valley of death.

* Jesus walked though that valley of death.

Psalm 22:11–21 (KJV 1900)

1 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; And in the night season, and am not silent.

11 Be not far from me; for trouble is near; For there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have compassed me: Strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, As a ravening and a roaring lion.14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint: My heart is like wax; It is melted in the midst of my bowels.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; And my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; And thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

16 For dogs have compassed me: The assembly of the wicked have inclosed me:They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: They look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, And cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O Lord: O my strength, haste thee to help me. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword; My darling from the power of the dog.21 Save me from the lion’s mouth: For thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

* Just as certain as Jesus faced the valley of death, so you will one day face the valley of the shadow of death!

A. We must face death completely alone.

* Jesus faced death on the cross alone.

Mark 15:33–37 (KJV 1900)

33 And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 35 And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias. 36 And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

* My friend you must face the valley of the shadow of death alone.

* The last evening I spent with my father haunts my memory. We sat in the hospital room late at night in silence. After all the years of love and talk and fellowship with my dad, now there were no words.

* My father was entering into the valley of death. Now there was nothing he could ask of me- there were no words of encouragement, or joy- just silence as my father contemplated his own death.

* After 70 short years the enemy of death had come! He was now at the door- my father and I sat helpless in the night as dad contemplated his death.

* I saw my father’s countenance change as he realized for the first time that he must now walk through this valley of death alone. * My mother left the hospital to go home to get much need rest. All my brothers and sisters had gone away to their families because their lives must go on. And now even I was telling my father I needed to leave and go to my family.

* As I left the hospital that night I saw and felt in my heart the loneliness that filled my father’s heart. He was going to that place where the living cannot go. * That night, before I left the hospital, it had dawned on my father’s understanding that his wife and children could not go through the valley of the shadow if death with him. The rest of the way now he must go alone. No loved one on this earth would be able to walk this terrible valley of death with him, he must now from this day forth, face death, God, and judgment alone.

* I purposed in my heart that I would be right there with my father while he died- so close that I might see any sign of the joys of heaven, some smile, or some exclamation that he say Jesus coming for him.

* I held my hand under my father’s head as he took his last breath. I was shocked to see not a heavenly smile, or dad pointing the angels there to carry him to heaven, but as his soul left his body, staring into his eyes I say the startled realization that he was going out into the blackness of the valley of the shadow of Death- Just like Jesus did.

* There was no heavenly fanfare, no great spirit of joy that he was going to meet his savior, by I saw the same thing in my father’s death that we have recorded in the Scriptures- Mark 15:34 (KJV 1900)

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 37 And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

* Oh my friends, each and every one of you will also face the valley of the shadow of death alone!

B. Death is our last and greatest enemy.

1 Corinthians 15:26 (KJV 1900)

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

* All the way back in the Garden of Eden, Death became our greatest enemy.

* In the Beginning God said to Ever there in the garden:

Genesis 3:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Romans 5:12 (KJV 1900)

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Romans 5:14 (KJV 1900)

14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

Romans 5:17 (KJV 1900)

17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one;

* Because of sin, we now all must be judged by a righteous, Holy, God, our creator. Death now has become our greatest enemy.

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV 1900)

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

C. There is no way for the natural man to prepare for death.

*Outside of the Bible, there is not way for a man to be prepared for Death.jk

D. Life is short

James 4:14–14 (KJV 1900)

For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Job 7:5–6 (KJV 1900)

6 My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.

Psalm 89:46–48 (KJV 1900)

7 Remember how short my time is: Wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? 48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? Shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?

Psalm 90:11–12 (KJV 1900)

12 So teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

E. The expectation of death is an incentive for the Christian to hold material blessings lightly.

1 Timothy 6:5–11 (KJV 1900)

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Job 1:13–22 (KJV 1900)

13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said,

Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Luke 12:13–15 (KJV 1900)

13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

1 Corinthians 7:29–31 (KJV 1900)

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

D. For the Christian, the expectation of death is an incentive to serve God

Ecclesiastes 9:3–12 (KJV 1900)

3 This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event unto all: yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead.

4 For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.

7 Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works. 8 Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. 9 Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.

Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 (KJV 1900)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

Lamentations 3:26–27 (KJV 1900)

27 It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

John 9:4 (KJV 1900)

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

II. Death was defeated by Jesus Christ.

Text: Psalm 23:3–4 (KJV 1900)

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Hebrews 2:14–15 (KJV 1900)

14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

I won’t have to cross Jordan alone…

When I come to the river at the ending of day When the last winds of sorrow have blown There'll be somebody waiting to show me the way I won't have to cross Jordan alone I won't have to cross Jordan alone Jesus died all my sins to atone In the darkness I see He'll be waiting for me I won't have to cross Jordan alone Often times I'm weary and troubled and sad When it seems that my friends have all flown There is one thought that cheers me and makes my heart glad I won't have to cross Jordan alone I won't have to cross Jordan alone Jesus died all my sins to atone In the darkness I see He'll be waiting for me I won't have to cross Jordan alone Though the billows of trouble and sorrow may sweep Christ the Saviour will care for his own Till the end of my journey my soul he will keep And I won't have to cross Jordan alone I won't have to cross Jordan alone Jesus died all my sins to atone In the darkness I see He'll be waiting for me I won't have to cross Jordan alone

Romans 8:35–39 (KJV 1900)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 (KJV 1900)

Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Conclusion:

* Will you face the valley of the shadow of death alone, our will you face death with Jesus? It’s your choice this morning.