Lesson 5 (23rd Psalm): Walking Through Death's Valley*

Psalm 23 Series

By

Elmer Towns

Lesson 5: Walking through death’s valley

A. INTRODUCTION: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT VALLEYS?

1. Surrounded by high mountains. There are cliffs or obstacles that will keep you in shadows or the dark.

2. There are mountain barriers to keep you from reaching your goal, but a valley goes through them.

3. There are wrong paths through the mountains that end up in box canyons or a wrong trail just evaporates.

4. Only a shepherd can get sheep through dark valleys.

B. YEA, THOUGH I WALK

1. The dark valleys are my choice, the shepherd does not lead into them.

2. Adam and Eve chose death and darkness (Rom. 5:12).

3. Sheep ignorantly stray into the valley of trouble, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isa. 53:6).

a. They do not see danger.

b. They follow their food.

c. They are defenseless.

4. Sheep are always selfish, “And have turned to their own way” (Isa. 53:6).

C. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH

1. A deep narrow valley is dark.

WHY DARKNESS SCARES US

a. We are afraid of the unknown.

b. Darkness covers the evil of evil people (John 3:19).

c. We stumble or fall.

d. We remember.

e. Darkness is Satan’s kingdom.

2. What causes shadows? A barrier to the light or a distortion to the light.

3. The original suggests it is a “valley of shadows” not a “valley of death.

WHAT SHADOWS DO TO US

1. Our active imagination scares us. “We have nothing to

fear but fear itself.”

2. Our guilty memory.

3. We imagine the worst not best.

4. Shadows make us hurt ourselves.

5. Shadows steal happiness.

4. Shadows are illusions, what we imagine is not there.

5. Shadows cannot hurt us, but they make us hurt ourselves.

6. What is the greatest shadow to scare us. Death.

7. Since shadows are caused by light, what should be our response?

a. Come to the light, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

b. Walk in the light, “He that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness” (John 8:12).

c. Trust the Lord. “Shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).

8. “Death Shadows.” Don’t scare the Lord. Why? He was born with a death shadow on the manger. “He became obedient to death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:8).

9. Remember, our death is only a shadow.

WHY DOES DEATH SCARE EVEN BELIEVERS?

1. We cannot see what is there.

2. We do not want physical pain.

3. We do not want to give up anything.

4. Because of sin, we have doubts.

5. We have not finished everything.

10. When the bony hand of death reaches for you, it is the hand of Jesus. “I am alive forever more and I have the keys of death” (Rev. 1:18).

D. THE WONDERFUL WORD THROUGH

1. What does the shepherd not do?

a. Lead us into the valley and leave us there.

b. Watch us from outside the valley.

c. Does not call to us from the other side.

d. The shepherd is with us through the valley to the other side.

2. Death is real to the unsaved, but a shadow to believers.

Death momentarily obscures the light when we pass through

the shadow of death, but instantly on the other side we enter

the light.

3. Our present troubles are mountains – barriers that block us.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MOUNTAINS

1. There is a valley through problems (John 14:6).

2. People make their problems, not God.

3. Valleys have shadows that scare us.

4. Shadows make us hurt ourselves.

5. The Lord is with us in shadows and valleys.

6. He will lead me through if I let him.

PRAYING THE 23rd PSALM

Because Thou art my Shepherd,

I commit my needs to Thee.

Provide green pastures for me to lie in,

Lead me beside still waters.

Restore my soul when I’m empty,

Lead me in right paths for Your name’s sake.

Be with me in danger when I walk,

Through the valley of the shadow of death.

Deliver me from evil,

And protect me with Your rod and staff.

Prepare a table to feed me,

So my enemies can see Your provision.

Anoint me with the oil of Your healing,

Let me drink from the full cup of Your provision.

Surely goodness and mercy will always follow me,

And I will live with You forever.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.