A LIGHT IN DARKNESS - PSALM 23:4

Christian Standard Bible (Psalm 23)

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.

4  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 MOST MEMORABLE PSALM HELPS US AT EVERY SEASON IN LIFE:

WHEN WE NEED TO BE REMINDED OF

GOD’S PRESENCE

GOD’S GUIDANCE

GOD’S PROVISIONS

GOD’S PROTECTION

PSALM 23 HAS IT ALL...

AND ESPECIALLY TODAY, WHEN WE FACE MOMENTS LIKE THIS: LOSS!

YOU SEE, I’VE LEARNED THAT David is not praying in this Psalm, he is not asking God to do something for him. Rather he is rejoicing in what the Lord has done and continues to do in his life.

AND OUR REALITY IS THIS: WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE…LOSS! PERHAPS NOT AT THIS LEVEL, BUT YES, WE’VE BEEN HERE BEFORE…

AND SO, IN VERSE 4, OUR SINGULAR VERSE OF EMPHASIS, DAVID SHIFTS FROM TALKING ABOUT HIS GOD - HIS GOOD SHEPHERD, TO TALKING TO HIS GOOD SHEPHERD…(DAVID’S LANGUAGE GOES FROM “HE” TO “YOU”)....

VS. 4A: EVEN WHEN I GO THROUGH THE DARKEST VALLEY -

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

WE SEE HERE THAT DARKNESS IS INEVITABLE.

BELOVED, WE CANNOT AVOID DARKNESS - EVERYDAY - ALL THE TIME...

DARKNESS WILL DARKEN YOUR DOOR...

DAVID DECLARES, “WHEN I GO THROUGH..”

AS BELIEVERS, WE MUST REFRAIN FROM BEING SURPRISED BY DARKNESS - BY DARK DAYS…THEY’RE SIMPLY A PART OF OUR EARTHLY EXPERIENCE...

SO, SINCE WE CANNOT STOP DARK DAYS, WE MUST PREPARE FOR DARK DAYS...

THEY’RE INEVITABLE...

OLD PREACHER: EITHER WE WILL BE IN A STORM, HEADED TOWARDS A STORM, OR COMING OUT OF A STORM...

HOW DO WE PREPARE? BY STAYING CLOSE TO THE SHEPHERD!

THERE’S POWER WITH PROXIMITY!

WHEN WE DRIFT FROM THE GOOD SHEPHERD, WE LOSE OUR INTIMACY AND STRENGTH…BUT WHEN WE DRAW NIGH AND STAY CLOSE, WE ACCESS POWER THAT IS BEYOND OURSELVES…

NOT ONLY DOES DAVID TEACH US THAT DARKNESS IS INEVITABLE…HE SHOWS US THAT THE SHEPHERD IS RELIABLE!

4  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.

WE DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF THE DARKNESS THAT SURROUNDS...

THE DARKNESS OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT TOMORROW...

THE DARKNESS OF LOSING SOMEONE YOU LOVE...

THE DARKNESS OF THREATS TO OUR VERY BEING...

THE SHEPHERD IS RELIABLE!

WE CAN RESPOND TO DARKNESS IN FAITH, BASED UPON THE ONE WHO IS WITH US IN OUR DARKNESS…THE ONE WHO MAKES DARKNESS - BRIGHT!

DAVID SAID, “I FEAR NO DANGER, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME...”

DAVID’S LACK OF FEAR IS CONNECTED TO THE PRESENCE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD...

HERE IT IS BELOVED, “YOU ARE NOT ALONE!”

THE VALLEY IS AS DARK AS DEATH, BUT HE’S THERE! THIS SITUATION…HE’S THERE! THIS SICKNESS…HE’S THERE! THIS SETBACK…HE’S THERE!

He knows that the only way we can reach the higher places of Christian experience and maturity is not on the playground of prosperity but in the schoolroom of suffering.

WE DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID…CHOOSE FAITH!

CHOOSE TRUST! CHOOSE THE GOOD SHEPHERD!

LITTLE BOY MADE GET WELL CARD FOR HIS GRANDFATHER IN THE HOSPITAL. ON THE INSIDE THE CARD READ: "I’LL BE WITH YOU WHEREVER YOU GO” HE COULDN’T THINK OF OR REMEMBER ANY VERSE TO GO ALONG WITH HIS STATEMENTS, SO HE WROTE AT THE BOTTOM, “GOD SAID THAT!”

I’M NOT GOING TO HOLDER YOU MUCH LONGER:

DARKNESS IS INEVITABLE - THE SHEPHERD IS RELIABLE - FINALLY, THE OUTCOME IS HOPEFUL!

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.

4  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.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, WHO IS RELIABLE, WE ARE ALSO ASSURED THAT OUR OUTCOME IS HOPEFUL… ((((WHEN I GO THROUGH)))).

WE DON’T SIT IN THE VALLEY…WE GO THROUGH THE VALLEY….

WE GONE BE ALRIGHT…

WE’LL GET THROUGH THIS…

WE ARE NOT TO STOP IN THIS VALLEY, WE ARE TO PRESS THROUGH THE VALLEY!!

ETERNAL SECURITY, ASSURANCE OF

IN ONE of the Superman movies, Superman saves a man from a burning building. He rescues him from the top floor and is carrying him to safety by flying through the skies. The man looks at Superman and then looks down to the ground. “I’m scared, Superman. Look how far down that is.”

Superman gives him a great answer. “Now if I delivered you from the burning fire, what makes you think I am going to drop you when I’m carrying you to safety?”

If God has delivered you from a burning hell, what makes you think He will drop you before He safely puts you down?252