Psalm 23 Part 4--The darkest valley
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me," (Psalm 23:4, ESV)
"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for you are with me," (Psalm 23:4, AMP)
"I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid," (Psalm 23:4, CEV)
It's one thing to admit you're a sheep in need of a shepherd, knowing He is nourishing you, quenching your thirst, and leading you on the righteous path.
But what if the right path (Psalm 23:3, CEV) is as dark and as scary and as horrible as death itself?
Would a loving shepherd take His sheep on that path?
Yep.
To some of you, this is a shock. You think, How could a good God lead someone on such a terrible path through life?
I don't know. But He does:
Abraham was asked to leave his father, his homeland, and everything he knew and travel hundreds of miles to go where God wanted him. The Promised Son, born to him at age 99, seemed as good as dead when God asked Abraham to put him on the altar and sacrifice him.
Job was living righteously, minding his own business, when Satan appeared in heaven. God offered Job to Satan as an example of someone who loved Him, and then gave Satan permission to strip literally everything from his life except life itself.
John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the hearts of people for the Messiah, did nothing but what he was put on earth to do: call people to repentance. That landed him in prison and he was beheaded out of spite.
Jesus, GOD'S OWN SON, who lived the only perfect life, became obedient to death on a cross.
Sometimes our Shepherd leads us through the valley of the shadow of death.
When I picture this valley, I see something dark and sinister and scary, and I picture the worst: tragic death, horrible accidents, unexplained disasters. These things happen every single day. If you read the paper or watch the news, it's a miracle that any of us has a somewhat decent life.
Maybe you've been through that valley already. Maybe you've walked with a loved one as they went through it. It's petrifying. Devastating. Horrifying.
It's part of God's plan.
Sometimes. Not always; not every day. But there are some amazing testimonies of people who lived to talk about such a valley. They lost children to death, they endured terrible torture, they watched their body wither away due to disease. And when they left the Valley of the Shadow of Death, they praised their Shepherd.
Crazy, right? Why in the world would someone lift up the name of a supposed Lord and Savior that took them through such a terrible place?
BECAUSE THEY MADE IT THROUGH.
The verse doesn't say we're near the Valley. We don't look over the edge or get close or around it. WE GO THROUGH.
THROUGH!!!
Tough? YES. Scary? OF COURSE.
But you will make it through. Because YOU ARE WITH YOUR SHEPHERD.
He is bigger, stronger, mightier, and smarter than anything you're up against. He made that mountain that's blocking your path. He set up that obstacle course. He dug that river. He started that fire.
So you can go through it. Unafraid.
Now, when you first see the Valley, fear will grip you. The darkness of death is nothing any of us can face with confidence...unless we are with someone who triumphs over death.
AND WE ARE!!!
We see it in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, this is the very reason He takes us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death: so we can see Him be victorious. Through us. And this fact gave Paul the words of the next verse, which fits perfectly with Psalm 23:
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. (1 Cor 15:58)
Stand firm.
Don't run away.
Let nothing move you.
FEAR NO EVIL.
Because He is with you. And He has overcome death. No need to fear the valley. Know He is leading you THROUGH it so that your faith is purified (1 Peter 1:7) and He is glorified.
You know someone that needs to hear this message. Please bless her by retweeting or forwarding it right now :)
@leslienotebook
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
"Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for you are with me," (Psalm 23:4, AMP)
"I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won't be afraid," (Psalm 23:4, CEV)
It's one thing to admit you're a sheep in need of a shepherd, knowing He is nourishing you, quenching your thirst, and leading you on the righteous path.
But what if the right path (Psalm 23:3, CEV) is as dark and as scary and as horrible as death itself?
Would a loving shepherd take His sheep on that path?
Yep.
To some of you, this is a shock. You think, How could a good God lead someone on such a terrible path through life?
I don't know. But He does:
Abraham was asked to leave his father, his homeland, and everything he knew and travel hundreds of miles to go where God wanted him. The Promised Son, born to him at age 99, seemed as good as dead when God asked Abraham to put him on the altar and sacrifice him.
Job was living righteously, minding his own business, when Satan appeared in heaven. God offered Job to Satan as an example of someone who loved Him, and then gave Satan permission to strip literally everything from his life except life itself.
John the Baptist, the prophet who prepared the hearts of people for the Messiah, did nothing but what he was put on earth to do: call people to repentance. That landed him in prison and he was beheaded out of spite.
Jesus, GOD'S OWN SON, who lived the only perfect life, became obedient to death on a cross.
Sometimes our Shepherd leads us through the valley of the shadow of death.
When I picture this valley, I see something dark and sinister and scary, and I picture the worst: tragic death, horrible accidents, unexplained disasters. These things happen every single day. If you read the paper or watch the news, it's a miracle that any of us has a somewhat decent life.
Maybe you've been through that valley already. Maybe you've walked with a loved one as they went through it. It's petrifying. Devastating. Horrifying.
It's part of God's plan.
Sometimes. Not always; not every day. But there are some amazing testimonies of people who lived to talk about such a valley. They lost children to death, they endured terrible torture, they watched their body wither away due to disease. And when they left the Valley of the Shadow of Death, they praised their Shepherd.
Crazy, right? Why in the world would someone lift up the name of a supposed Lord and Savior that took them through such a terrible place?
BECAUSE THEY MADE IT THROUGH.
The verse doesn't say we're near the Valley. We don't look over the edge or get close or around it. WE GO THROUGH.
THROUGH!!!
Tough? YES. Scary? OF COURSE.
But you will make it through. Because YOU ARE WITH YOUR SHEPHERD.
He is bigger, stronger, mightier, and smarter than anything you're up against. He made that mountain that's blocking your path. He set up that obstacle course. He dug that river. He started that fire.
So you can go through it. Unafraid.
Now, when you first see the Valley, fear will grip you. The darkness of death is nothing any of us can face with confidence...unless we are with someone who triumphs over death.
AND WE ARE!!!
We see it in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Oh, this is the very reason He takes us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death: so we can see Him be victorious. Through us. And this fact gave Paul the words of the next verse, which fits perfectly with Psalm 23:
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. (1 Cor 15:58)
Stand firm.
Don't run away.
Let nothing move you.
FEAR NO EVIL.
Because He is with you. And He has overcome death. No need to fear the valley. Know He is leading you THROUGH it so that your faith is purified (1 Peter 1:7) and He is glorified.
You know someone that needs to hear this message. Please bless her by retweeting or forwarding it right now :)
@leslienotebook
myleslienotebook@gmail.com
Comments
Post a Comment