It Is Well With My Soul Series

It Is Well with My Soul!

Psalm 23:4

Introduction:

Reminded that Psalm 23 is a psalm of relationship = describes our relationship with God with that of a sheep and its shepherd!

Ps. 23:4 = halfway point of the Psalm… entered the valley of the shadow of death… learned that valleys are temporary… passageways… through this valley that the shepherd leads his sheep to the tablelands… high mountain meadows (v.5).

there is within the sheep a longing for “Higher Ground.”

Longing in the heart of God’s sheep to be away from the mundane lowlands of this world and to be on higher ground with God… to enjoy the delights of those mountaintop experiences.

Problem: we want to be “air-lifted” to the top – only way to reaching the top is by climbing up through the valley!

Shepherd knows this and leads his sheep through the deep valleys, up the narrow winding paths to the high table lands above.

David = Judean wilderness area knew this. Made this trek

many a time.

Israel:

Deut. 11:11 – Canaan (land of Israel) = “the land, whither thou goest in to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys…”

Judean wilderness is mountainous country with deep valleys and steep mountains… some valleys/ravines so deep that the shadows remain throughout most of the day… with only a little sunlight filtering in at Noonday when sun reaches its highest point.

Christian life = consists of a life of hills and valleys. You see behind every mountain is a valley… and behind every valley is a mountain.

Oftentimes as we make the climb out of the valleys and onto the mountain top… we are on the rough side of the mountain!

As sheep contemplates the path ahead it knows that it is fraught with difficulties, dangers and even death lurks there… yet they are all surpassed by the delights of being on the mountaintop with the shepherd…

Note: v.4d – “thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

“Comfort” = describes a state of inner ease or calm; freedom from pain or sorrow; a sense of well-being!

Sheep = because of my shepherd, “It is Well with My Soul!”

TS: Christian because of your relationship with the Good Shepherd it can be, “Well With Your Soul!!!”

I. BECAUSE OF WHO MY SHEPHERD IS!

Look: v.4 – sheep took great comfort as they made the trek through the valley and up the mountain because the shepherd is with them!

True for David and true for you and me this morning!

Dear child of God as we trek through the deep valleys and up the rough mountains, we can take great comfort because of who our Shepherd is!

Look: v.1 – “The LORD is my Shepherd…”

“LORD” = compound word ‘Jehovah-Roi’ – “The LORD my Shepherd!

“LORD” = Jehovah/Yahweh – the great, “I AM! The eternal, self-existent Creator God of the Universe!

Jehovah God of the OT is the Jesus of the NT. My Shepherd is not just any Shepherd! He is the Good Shepherd… Great Shepherd… Chief Shepherd!

A. He Gives Me Companionship

cf. Can take great comfort in the fact that as I journey through the valleys and up the mountains… never travel alone!

Look: v.4 – “Thou art with me…” = I have a constant companion… My Shepherd is with me!!!

I have His Promise!

Matt. 28:20 – “…and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

Illust: Missionary-explorer David Livingston during times of great distress and difficulty would write this verse in his diary time and time again... with these words, “It is the word of a perfect Gentleman. And that is the end of it.”

**Never put a ? where God has placed a .”

Heb. 13:5 – “for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

Isaiah 41:10 – “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Hymn:

“Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed

For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid.

I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand.

Upheld by my gracious, omnipotent hand.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose

I will not, I will not desert to its foes;

That soul, tho’ all hell should endeavor to shake,

I’ll never, no neve, no never, forsake!”

B. He Gives Me Confidence

Look: Ps. 23:4 – “Yea, though I walk… I will fear no evil.”

“Evil” = not moral evil but calamity.

“Walk” = a sure step… not a faltering step but a firm step; not a fearful step but a faith-filled step… a confident step.