The Valley of the Shadow of Death Chapter 4 Pt. 2
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New Characters in Chapter Four
Two men quickly retreating (Page. 93)
The Voice of Another in the Valley (Page. 97)
Pope and Pagan (Page 98)
New Places in Chapter Four
Valley of the Shadow of Death (Page 95)
The very Mouth of Hell (Page 96)
After Christian comes out of the Valley of Humiliation, where he had his horrific battle with Apollyon, he directly goes into yet another valley, the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
This again attest to the fact that the Christian life is not for the faint at heart, it is a life characterized by many various types of difficulties, and challenges.
This valley was a very solitary place, a place much like the prophet Jeremiah speaks of;
Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
In this Valley we will learn yet again of the many challenges that Christians face in their life, and their purpose.
As Christians comes to the borders of the Valley, he is met by two unnamed men.
They come to him telling him of the dangers that await him the Valley before him.
They speak of hobgoblins, and dragons, satyrs.
They tell of how the Valley is pitch black, with the continual howling and yelling of people in total misery.
They try to convince Christian to go back.
Yet Christian being the genuine believer he is said he was convinced that this was the way of salvation that leads to the Celestial City, and that he was going to walk in it no matter what.
And with that they departed ways.
Than Christians begins his journey through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Bunyan said that in this pit on the right side their was a very deep ditch.
He said that it was in this ditch that the blind have been leading the blind since the beginning of time, to the destruction of both the blind leaders, and followers.
This ditch represents error in doctrine.
And truly, watching out for doctrinal errors is one of the many challenges of the Christian life.
By this ditch Christian was warned of the errors in heretical, false doctrines.
The Bible is replete with the fact that we as Believers must be on guard against false doctrine.
And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Bunyan also said that on the left side their was a very dangerous quagmire, that even a “good” man, a well-intended man, can so easily fall into if his is not watchful.
Bunyan said this was the same pit in which David fell into, with Bathsheba.
This pit is to represent moral failings, and sexual immorality, and the very subtle dangers their-in.
Again, we as believers are commanded to guard ourselves from things of this nature.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
It is so easy for the well intented to fall into the snare of immorality, and this is why we must keep our hearts, and minds held captive by the Word of God.
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
So here is Christian walking in this dark valley, in between these two very dangers pits, taking each step carefully.
This reminds me of a Charles Spurgeon quote where he says, “The entirety of the Christian life is like walking in the top of a dangerous slope, one misstep and your on the downgrade.”
Christian is tested to his limits in this valley, he sighed bitterly as he walked through its dark loneliness.
As he walked in the Valley, he comes to the very mouth of Hell, it is here that Christian is forced to consider the plight of the damned, and the misery that awaits them.
He sees the flames, and sparks, he hears the miserable noises of the pit.
With all these things on his mind, and heart Christian puts to flight yet another weapon, the one called All-Prayer.
He cries out, “O Lord, I beseech you, deliver my soul.”
His plight is not answered immediately, and he still walks through these things for a long time.
Often times the Lord will not answer our cries for deliverance immediately, but will sovereignly allow us to walk through them for some time, for His intended purpose.
Often times He answers our cries for deliverance as He did Paul.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
He than hears what he thinks to be a band of demons coming toward, he stops not knowing what to do, and as they come closer, as fear wells up inside him, this leads him to vehemently cry, “I will walk in the strength of the Lord!”
And with this they flee from him.
By doing this Christian displays for us the importance of prayer, and holy reliance on God through struggles.
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.
In this deep, dark valley, surrounded by depression, fears, temptations, cries, and sadness, Christian feels faint, just like so many of us amidst our troubles.
He was so confounded, beyond measure.
As He walked, He thought he heard the voice of a man going before quoting the Psalms.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
This made Christian glad, and for good reason.
He perceived two things, one that another God fearing man was in the Valley with Him, and also if God was with this man, He was also with, he also wanted to catch up to this man to have a companion in this journey.
And it so comforting to know that whatever we are going through there are other fellow saints who are, or already have gone through the same things.
No struggle is an original struggle, whatever you may go through, odds are that other fellow believers have gone through the same thing.
As Christian walked through the Valley, finally the sun arose to a new day.
And Christian cried, as Amos cried He has turned the “shadow of death into morning.”
Christian than looked back on the Valley, and saw more clearly all the things he had walked through.
Christian was greatly moved by the deliverance from the dangers he had faced.
While walking through our trials, it is hard to see what the Lord is working in us, but when the light comes on our darkness we see clearly all the things God intended for us to learn.
Why is it necessary for believers to walk through suffering.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Explain what the Lord does through our troubles.
Speak on Pagan and Pope.
Read poem.