Psalm 23:4a

Introduction

Before we begin in Psalm 23; I discovered in my personal study time a vs. that really relates to our study.

King James Version Psalm 95

For he is our God;

And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

I believe this 1 verse, plainly tells us why Psalm 223 is so important.

King James Version Psalm 23

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

Now we come to the half way point of the Psalm, what better time to also enter into a transition; in the 1st 3 vs. David used 1st person pronouns-I-Me-MY. Now David uses the 2nd person pronouns=You-Thou. Some have described this as an intimate conversion between David and God, with David expressing his love & gratitude.

Not only is there a transition of pronouns, but there is also a transition of location. It’s now spring time, the shepherd will now lead his sheep to the summer pastures, the summer grasses, and it’s located in the mountains.

Shepherd gets up one morning; leaves house & family, and returns 3 months later. Just the shepherd and the sheep for 3 months. The shepherd is going to lead his sheep up into the mountains, but mountains have valleys.

I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day; Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”Refrain: Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven’s tableland, A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

Should be our song; our prayer, but we have to go through the valleys to get to higher ground.

Walking through the valleys

The word walk is the Hebrew word ya-lack and is used over a 1000x in the OT; over 600x it is translated as go. The root word means to pursue. We have stressed how dumb sheep are, they are following the shepherd who is leading them down the paths of righteousness. From this I can imagine the sheep are pursuing the right paths or the path of righteousness.

In biblical times the shepherd never led them to an area he had not already scouted. He knew the way; he led them slowly up the mountain, allowing them to eat & drink along the way. He was also persistent, knowing his goal, wanting the best for His sheep. But to get to the desired pasture he had to go through several valleys.

Valleys like: disappointment-discouragement-dilemmas

We have to experience the shadows in the valley:

Shadows may be defined as : the dark figure cast upon a surface by a body intercepting the rays from a source of light. OR as : an inseparable companion or follower. Shadows are the what ifs, the sense of doom, despair, and agony on me. Shadows make us see things that really aren’t there. We could easily end up hurting someone or ourselves.

But if we are following the shepherd close enough, that is shadowing Him, He will lead down the right path.

We have to experience the valley of death.

Reminded of the old joke: I want to go to heaven, just not right now. My mother stated she was not afraid of dying, just the process of dying. We don’t like talking about death. We do not want to experience the physical pain. If like me, I want to know what it will all be like, it’s the fear of not knowing that bothers me. What about my sin when I get there, like the song: “I Can Only Imagine.”

But in all these valleys we have the promise of our Good Shepherd leading us through the valleys. It does not say he will lead us into but through. Don’t stop in a valley but just keep on keeping on.

Jesus stated “I am the light.” Shadows are darkness, in a valley run to the light.

Why walk through the valleys?

I’m climbing up the mountain, I can see the valleys, why can’t i=I just avoid them? To answer that question we must go back to the shepherd & his flock going up the mountain. 3 reasons:

To eliminate fear:

1st the sheep cannot remain in the same cold weather pastures. Need to let the grass rejuvenate, & the water becomes low. The shepherd desires the best for his sheep. He has already gone ahead, scouted out the area, he has a prepared pasture waiting on them. Therefore, he knows the way, knows were the dangers are-clifts-rock slides-predators-could be found.

King James Version Chapter 14

14 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know

I will not fear, thou art with me.

To go through the well watered route

It’s a long uphill, tiresome trek to get to the new pastures, it’s hot…sheep get thirsty and require water-no water, sheep will die. Can you imagine the shape those sheep are in until they find water? The water refreshes, rejuvenates, and uplifts their spirits, gives them a new attitude.

Since we are really talking about people, let’s see how we find refreshment in the valley.

King James Version Chapter 4

Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

King James Version Chapter 7

If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water

To discover the richest feed and best forage

Sheep graze as they are being led up the mountain & through the valleys. The best grass is found in the valley’s beside the water supply. But in this position the sheep may encounter flash floods, rock slides, and predators. Sudden storms even snow may inundate the sheep.

But our Shepherd knows all of this when He leads us through His valleys. He knows where we can find the sustenance and strength and gentle grazing despite every threat or disaster we encounter along the way.

It is only when we can look back at the valley we can see how our Shepherd lead us through the valley. We can see the Shepherds hand has guided us, sustained us, and renewed our faith.

Storms may break about me, predators may attack me, the river threaten to overflow and inundate me. But because the Good Shepherd is in the situation with me; I shall not fear.

Ways to get through your valley

We are going to have spiritual valleys; the question is: How do you respond?

Accept the reality of the valley.

We are all going to have valley experiences. We have to remember another song “I’ll Never Walk Alone.”

You know me by name You called me, You called me Where all of my days

I'll go where You would go

Though I walk through the valley I am safe, I am safe in Your arms In the face of life's mysteries I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid

I'll never walk alone I'll never walk alone With You by my side With You by my side

Your spirit lives within me No longer I'm afraid With You by my side With You by my side

In the valley I can walk through sand- it will not bury me; I can walk through fire-it will not burn me; I can face floods-it won’t drown me.

Some of the trials we face are fear of failure, trials, troubles, turmoil, stress, and when having these emotions admit we are in a valley.

Announce your response in the valley

First, do not wait until you are out of the valley. Why? The victory is already yours. Note what David wrote: I will walk through...I will not fear. Walk not stop, walk through not around, no fear, head up high…Your destination is in sight. Daystar shine upon me

Lead me, Lord, I'll follow Anywhere You open up the door. Let Your Word speak to me; Show me what I've never seen before. Lord, I want to be a witness You can take what's wrong and make it right. Daystar, shine down on me, Let Your love shine through me in the night.

Acknowledge your resources

Look back at vs.1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Means He meets my needs, He protects me, think :

King James Version Chapter 8

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor tpowers, nor things wpresent, 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.

In the valley: he creates a clear path to walk

In the valley: he’s my guiding light

In the valley: he’s my bright and morning star

In the valley: he’s a rock in a weary land; shelter in the time of a storm

In the valley: he directs & orders my footsteps.

In closing, I want to take an old hymn and change one word from Garden to valley…not going to sing!

I come to the valley alone, While the dew is still on the roses; And the voice I hear, falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.

Refrain: And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own, And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice Is so sweet the birds hush their singing; And the melody that He gave to me Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the valley with Him Tho' the night around me be falling; But He bids me go; thro' the voice of woe, His voice to me is calling.