WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY
PSALM 23:4
INTRODUCTION:
IT WOULD BE NICE TO LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THERE WERE NO HARD TIMES OR DIFFICULTIES. WE’D ALL LIKE TO STAY ON THE MOUNTAINTOPS AND NOT VISIT THE VALLEYS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE CASE. MOST OF THE TIME THE ONLY WAY TO THE MOUNTAINTOP IS TO GO THROUGH THE VALLEY. NOTE THAT I DIDN’T SAY TO STAY IN THE VALLEY BUT TO GO THROUGH THE VALLEY. CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT LEAD US INTO THE VALLEY, BUT IT IS OUR CHOICE AS TO WHETHER OR NOT WE STAY IN THE VALLEY.
ONE WOMAN WENT THROUGH A VALLEY AT WORK AND GOD WORKED DRAMATICALLY IN HER LIFE. WHILE AT WORK A WOMAN RECEIVED A CALL FROM HER SITTER WHO TOLD HER THAT HER CHILD HAD A FEVER AND SHE NEEDED TO COME HOME. THE MOTHER LEFT WORK AND STOPPED AT THE PHARMACY TO GET MEDICATION FOR HER CHILD. SHE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT AS SHE WAS GOING INTO THE PHARMACY AS SHE WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY A 3000 LB. DUCK RUNNING OUT WITH SOME GRAPES.
SHE GOT THE MEDECINE AND WENT BACK TO HER CAR ONLY TO FIND THAT IN HER HASTE SHE HAD LOCKED THE KEYS IN THE CAR. SHE CALLED HOME AND TOLD THE SITTER WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND THE SITTER SUGGESTED USING A COATHANGER TO OPEN THE DOOR. THE MOTHER FOUND THE HANGER BUT THEN REALIZED SHE DIDN’T KNOW HOW TO USE IT. SHE WAS STILL IN HER VALLEY.
ABOUT FIVE MINUTES LATER A DIRTY, GREASY,BEARDED MAN WITH AN OLD BIKER SKULL RAG ON HIS HEAD DROVE UP TO HER ON HIS BEAT UP OLD MOTORCYCLE AND ASKED IF HE COULD HELP. THE MOTHER REPLIED, “MY DAUGHTER IS VERY SICK. I STOPPED TO GET MEDICATION AND LOCKED THE KEYS IN MY CAR. CAN YOU USE THIS HANGER TO OPEN THE CAR DOOR FOR ME.
HE SAID “SURE”. HE WALKED TO THE CAR AND WITHIN A MINUTE HAD THE DOOR OPEN. SHE HUGGED THE MAN AND SAID “THANK YOU SO MUCH. YOU’RE A VERY NICE MAN”. THE MAN REPLIED,”LADY, I’M NOT A NICE MAN. I JUST GOT OUT OF PRISON TODAY. I WAS IN PRISON FOR CAR THEFT AND I’VE ONLY BEEN OUT FOR AN HOUR.”
THE WOMAN HUGGED HIM AGAIN AND WITH TEAR-FILLED EYES LOOKED TO HEAVEN AND CRIED OUT LOUD “O THANK YOU GOD! YOU EVEN SENT ME A PROFESSIONAL.”
SOMETIMES OOUR VALLEYS ARE NOT TOO DEEP. OTHER TIMES IT FEELS LIKE WE’LL NEVER SEE THE SUN AGAIN. THIS PASSAGE TELLS US A LOT ABOUT VALLEYS. LET’S LOOK AT SOME OF THE WORDS IN IT.
• VALLEYS ARE DREADFUL: WE NEVER THINK OF THE VALLEY AS BEING A GOOD PLACE. GOOD CAN COME FROM IT, BUT IT DOESN’T SEEM SO AT THE TIME. IN FACT IT MAY BE QUITE A WHILE BEFORE WE SEE THE GOOD FROM IT, IF AT ALL. DAVID DID NOT WANT TO GO INTO THE VALLEY, AND NEITHER DO WE. WE KNOW THIS BECAUSE OF THE WAY DAVID STARTS THIS VERSE. HE SAYS “EVEN THOUGH”, AND THESE ARE WORDS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH POSITIVE ESPERIENCES.
• VALLEYS ARE DEEP: DAVID THEN SAYS THAT HE “WALKS” HERE. IT IS NOT A LEISURE WALK, BUT A WALK THAT WILL TAKE SOME TIME. THE DISTANCE THROUGH THE VALLEY IS ALWAYS LONGER THAN WE LIKE. IT MAY BE A TREACHEROUS WALK AS WELL. WE NEED TO TAKE OUR TIME IF WE WANT TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE THROUGH THE VALLEY.
• VALLEYS ARE DEPARTING: DAVID IS CAREFUL TO USE THE WORD “THROUGH” IN REFERENCE TO THE VALLEY. HE IS NOT GOING TO STAY IN THE VALLEY. HE WILL GET THROUGH IT, WITH GOD’S HELP.
2 CORINTHIANS 4:16-18:
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
• VALLEYS ARE DECAYING: “VALLEYS” ARE FORMED BY EROSION. I REMEMBER WATCHING THE FLINTSONES ONE DAY. FRED AND BARNEY WERE TAKING THEIR FAMILIES ON VACATION AND THEY STOPPED AT THE GRAND CANYON. EXCEPT IT WAS ONLY A TRICKLE AT THAT TIME. BARNEY TURNED TO FRED AND SAID “THEY SAY IT’S GOING TO BE A BIG THING SOME DAY.” VALLEYS ARE FORMED BY EROSION, OR BREAKING DOWN. GOD BRINGS BELIEVERS INTO THE VALLEY TO BREAK US OF OUR BAD HABITS AND MAKE US WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE.
• VALLEYS ARE DECEIVING: NOW THIS FACT ESCAPES MANY. THE VALLEY IS REALITY AND DEATH IS REALITY. BUT IN THIS VALLEY IS THE”SHADOW” OF THE VALLEY OF DEATH. SHADOWS HAVE FORM BUT NO SUBSTANCE. IT’S KIND OF LIKE THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS, FORM BUT NO SUBSTANCE. DO NOT THINK THAT SATAN WON’T BE IN THE VALLEY. WHEN JESUS WAS LED INTO THE WILDERNESS AFTER HIS BAPTISM SATAN WAS THERE. WHEN JOB WENT THROUGH HIS VALLEY SATAN WAS THERE. BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE “SHADOW” CANNOT HURT YOU, ONLY SCARE YOU.
WHAT WE’RE GOING TO DO TONIGHT IS LOOK AT SOME WAYS TO GAIN A VICTORY OVER THE VALLEYS WE FACE IN OUR LIVES. THERE ARE FIVE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TONIGHT THAT WILL HELP US THROUGH THE VALLEY.
POINT ONE: ACCEPT THE REALITY OF THE VALLEY
SHEPERDS AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR WILL TAKE THEIR FLOCK ON A LONGER JOURNEY TO THE MOUNTAINS. DURING THE SPRING THEY WILL GRAZE ON THE FIELDS NEARER HOME WHILE THE MOUNTAINTOPS ARE STILL COVERED WITH SNOW. IN THE SUMMER IT IS TIME TO SEEK NEWER FIELDS, IN THE HILLS. THE ROUTE THEY TAKE IS THROUGH THE VALLEYS. IT’S COOLER IN THE SUMMER HEAT, AND IT IS A WELL WATERED ROUTE. THE SHEEP NEED TO GO ON THIS JOURNEY FOR THE COOLER TEMPERATURE WILL HELP THEM TO SURVIVE.
AS SHEEP WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE REALITY OF GOING THROUGH VALLEYS AS THE SHEPHERD LEADS US TO THE MOUNTAINTOPS. THERE IS ANOTHER REALITY I THINK THAT HAS TO BE EMBRACED, AND THAT IS THE REALITY THAT BOTH BELIEVERS AND NON-BELIEVERS ARE LED INTO VALLEYS OBVIOUSLY FOR DIFFERENT REAQSONS
Matthew 5:45: that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
WE ARE LED INTO VALLEYS TO KNOW THE REALITY OF THE SHEPHERD. FOR THE CHRISTIAN IT IS TO BE BROKEN, AND TO KNOW GOD’S PROTECTION AND PROVISION. FOR THE NON-CHRISTIAN THE VALLEY IS THERE TO REALIZE THAT THERE IS ONLY ONE SHEPHERD WHO KNOWS THE WAY. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT NON-CHRISTIANS MAY GET MIRED IN THE VALLEY AS THEY REFUSE TO FOLLOW THE SHEPHERD. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN’T GET OUT OF THE VALLEY THEY ARE IN.
FOR THE CHRISTIAN WITH THEIR EYES ON GOD, THE WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY WILL BE TEMPORAL, BUT THERE WILL BE VALLEYS.
ISAIAH 43:2: When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
AS YOU CAREFULLY READ THIS VERSE YOU WILL NOTE THAT IT SAYS “WHEN” YOU GO THROUGH THE RIVERS, NOT IF. THERE ARE DEFINITE VALLEYS. WE WILL HAVE VALLEYS TO DEAL WITH IN LIFE. JESUS SAID
JOHN 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
THERE IS A “SHADOW OF DEATH” IN ISRAEL. IT IS A VALLEY THAT RUNS BETWEEN JERICHO AND JERUSALEM. THIS VALLEY OR CANYON IS SO DEEP THAT PART OF IT NEVER SEES THE WHOLE SUN. THIEVES HIDE IN THIS NARROW VALLEY AND BOUNCE ON UNSUSPECTING TRAVELLERS. DAVID COMPARES THIS VALLEY TO DEATH.
PHILIP KELLER WROTE IN HIS BOOK “A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23” THESE WORDS:
OFTEN WE PRAY OR SINGTHE HYMN REQUESTING GOD TO MAKE US AN INSPIRATION TO SOMEONE ELSE. WE WANT, INSTINCTIVELY, TO BE A CHANNEL OF BLESSING TO OTHER LIVES. THE SIMPLE FACT IS THAT JUST AS WATER CAN ONLY FLOW IN A DITCH, CHANNEL OR VALLEY – SO IN THE CHRISTIAN’S CAREER, THE LIFE OF GOD CAN ONLY FLOW IN BLESSING THROUGH THE VALLEYS THAT HAVE BEEN CARVED AND CUT INTO OUR LOOWN LIVES BY EXCRUCIATING EXPERIENCES.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE BEST ABLE TO COMFORT ANOTHER IN BEREAVEMENT IS THE PERSON WHO HIMSELF HAS LOST A LOVED ONE. THE ONE WHO CAN BEST MINISTER TO A BROKEN HEART IS ONE WHO HAS KNOWN A BROKEN HEART.
MOST OF US DO NOT WANT VALLEYS IN OUR LIVES. WE SHRINK FROM THEM WITH A SENSE OF FEAR AND FOREBODING. YET IN SPITE OF OUR WORST MISGIVINGS GOD CAN BRING GREAT BENEFIT AND LASTING BENEDICTION TO OTHERS THROUGH THE VALLEYS.
TO DEFEAT THE VALLEYS OF LIFE WE MUST FIRST ACCEPT THE REALITY OF VALLEYS IN OUR LIVES, AND THAT GOD WILL SEE US THROUGH THEM.
REVELATION 7:17: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
POINT TWO: HOW WE RESPOND IN THE VALLEY
ONCE WE ACCEPT THE REALITY OF THE VALLEY WE THEN HAVE TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT OUR RESPONSE TO THE VALLEY WILL DETERMINE VICTORY OR DEFEAT FOR US. THERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO IN OUR RESPONSE THAT WILL HELP US.
FOCUS ON THE SHEPHERD, NOT THE VALLEY: FOCUS ON THE ONE WHO IS GOING TO GET YOU THROUGH.
WHEN I WAS GOING TO ACADIA, ON OPPORTUNITIES TO COME HOME, I WOULD GO THROUGH THE RODMAN HILL USUALLY. IT CUTS OFF AN HOUR, BUT IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE WAY IT’S EASY TO GET LOST. THE CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP STARTS AT WINDSOR AND I WOULD USUALLY GET A TIM HORTON’S COFFEE TO GET ME THROUGH.
ON ONE OCCASION THERE WAS A LADY AT THE TIM HORTON’S WHO WANTED TO GO TO TRURO, USING THE RODMAN HILLS. SHE ASKED FOR DIRECTIONS AND THE CLERK MADE HER A MAP, BUT SHE WAS STILL CONFUSED. I SPOKE UP AND SAID LADY, YOU WANT TO GET TO TRURO. SHE SAID YES. I SAID FOLLOW ME, AND I’LL GET YOU THROUGH. FOCUS ON THE SHEPHERD NOT THE VALLEY. HE’LL GET YOU THROUGH.
THE SECOND PART OF VERSE FOUR IS DAVID’S DECLARATION THAT HIS TRUST WAS IN THE SHEPHERD AND NOT THE VALLEY.
PSALM 23:4B: I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
A CHILD HAD TO STAND IN FRONT OF HIS CLASS AND MAKE A SPEECH ABOUT “WHAT I WANT TO BE WHEN I GROW UP.” HE SAID, “I’M GOING TO BE A LION TAMER IN THE CIRCUS. I WILL HAVE LOTS OF FIERCE LIONS. I WILL WALK INTO THE CAGE AND THEY WILL ROAR. AND I WILL USE THE WHIP TO CONTROL THEM.” HE PAUSED FOR A MOMENT THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE HAD JUST SAID, AND THEN ADDED, “ BUT OF COURSE, I’LL HAVE MY DADDY WITH ME.”
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN GOING THROUGH THE VALLEY WILL BE DIFFICULT AND THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE IT THOUGH IS NOT TO CONCENTRATE ON THE VALLEY, BUT ON THE ONE GETTING YOU THROUGH.
POINT THREE: REMEMBER YOUR RESOURCES
DAVID MENTIONS TWO PIECES OF WQUIPMENT THAT THE SHEPHERD ALWAYS HAS WITH HIM, THE “ROD” AND THE “STAFF”. THE ROD WAS FOR PROTECTION AND THE STAFF WAS FOR PROVISION.
THE ROD WAS MADE FROM A HARD PIECE OF WOOD, BETWEEN 2-3 FT LONG. IT WOULD HAVE A KNOB ON THE END OF IT, ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR FIST AND IN THE KNOB WOULD BE SEVERAL NAILS OR SHARP PIECES OF METAL. SHEPHERDS WERE EXPERTS AT USING THE ROD. IT WOULD FIT COMFORTABLY IN THEIR HAND AND THEY WOULD KILL PREDATORS BY THROWING IT AT THEM. THEY COULD BE ACCURATE UP TO A DISTANCE OF TWENTY-FIVE FEET.
THE STAFF WAS SEVEN FT. LONG SOAKED IN WATER TO SOFTEN AND BEND IT FOR THE HOOK AT THE END. THE HOOK WAS BIG ENOUGH TO GO AROUND THE CHEST OF A SMALL SHEEP, AND SMALL ENOUGH TO GO AROUND THE NECK OF A LARGE ONE. THE STAFF WAS USED TO GUIDE AND PROTECT THE SHEEP FROM FALLING, AND IF THEY GOT IN TROUBLE TO GET THEM OUT OF IT.
OUR SHEPHERD HAS GIVEN US SEVERAL OTHER RESOURCES TO HELP US. CONSIDER THESE:
• WE GET COMFORT FROM GOD: 2 CORINTHIANS 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
• WE GET COMFORT FROM JESUS CHRIST: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-2: f you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
• WE GET COMFORT FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT: ACTS 9:31: Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
• WE GET COMFORT FROM THE SCRIPTURES: ROMANS 15:4: For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
• WE GET COMFORT FROM EACH OTHER: 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11: Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
CONCLUSION:
WE ARE GOING TO SEE VALLEYS IN OUR LIVES. BUT IF WE KEEP OUR EYES ON THE SHEPHERD HE WILL LEAD US SAFELY THROUGH. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT A SHADOW HAS FORM, BUT NO SUBSTANCE.
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT WHEN WE ARE DEALING WITH THE SHADOWS IN THE VALLEY THAT THERE IS ANOTHER SHADOW THERE. IT WAS THE FORM OF THE FOURTH MAN THAT WAS IN THE FIREY FURNACE WITH SHADDRACK MESHACK, AND ABINDIGO. YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE TUNNEL TO FIND THE LIGHT. WHEN YOU TURN FROM THE SHADOW YOU WILL ALWAYS FIND THE SON, OF GOD.
PSALM 91:1: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
