In the Valley
Psalm 23:4
July 22, 2018
I would like to say I’m a really tough dude! OK . . . I’ll say it, I’m a really tough dude! There I said it. But, there are some things I am afraid of. Maybe they are phobias, maybe they’re irrational, but I will admit, I own them. I won’t tell you stories about what I’ve done and not done about them.
But I will tell you this - - - I’m not a fan of spiders! Also, snakes get to me as well! I don’t like heights, either - I have a 10' ladder max. I love fire, but have a pretty healthy fear of it too.
What about you? What are you afraid of? It may be irrational, it may be totally rational and make sense to you, but to nobody else, that’s ok too. If we were to be really honest, we could make a huge list of things we are afraid of. There are lots of things out there to be afraid of, isn't there?
We live in a world which seeks to scare us. We see it in the media and in politics. Usually, when a politician is running for office, they tell you everything about their opponent that you need to fear. Sometimes, they don’t tell you what they are for, just why you shouldn’t vote for their opponent.
This was so evident 2 weeks ago when President Trump nominated Judge Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. There was an organization which was against him, and here’s the thing, they had a prewritten statement meant to scare us before the selection was ever announced. Look at this tweet that came out after he was nominated. They had XX’s in place where the person’s name should go.
Can you believe that? But that’s the world we live in. Fear sells! Fear demands our attention.
Today, we’re looking a one verse that someone asked me to talk about. King David picks out the thing which might be what most of us are most afraid of. The valley of the shadow of death. Death is that last great enemy, isn't it? Most people are afraid of death. It used to be that we never talked about it. We would pretend it doesn’t exist. But we know it does. It’s still a result of that same fear of facing our own mortality. That’s life’s last great enemy.
Death is Satan’s last weapon. David could face life, knowing death was always around him, because he knew the Shepherd. David could live life, even through death, because the good shepherd promises that when the moment in life comes for us to die, He will be with us in that dark valley.
Jesus said, 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. – John 14:2-3
Those are great words of comfort for the believer. When we have Jesus, we know, we trust, we believe . . . without a doubt? That we have eternal life. Hopefully you believe without a doubt! That’s so crucial and sometimes part of our issue. We kinda think we’re good, but we have our self doubts. It’s part of the roller coaster ride of faith.
In the midst of life, we can struggle with other enemies like pain, suffering, ridicule, disease, and injury. But strength and courage cannot overcome death. It has the final word. Only one person can walk with us through death's dark valley and bring us safely to the other side and that is our shepherd, Jesus, who has experienced death and conquered death. He's been there.
The phrase, "The valley of the shadow of death" is an actual location in Israel. It is south of the Jericho Road, leading from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea, and is a narrow pass through a mountain range. Grazing conditions make it necessary for sheep to be moved through this valley for seasonal feeding each year.
The valley is 4 ½ miles long. The mountains can be up to 1,000 feet high, and in some places, it’s only 10 to 12 feet wide. Travel through the valley is dangerous. (Fernando D'Alfonso is revered as a person who is a patriarch of the guild of shepherding.)
As you travel, there are ditches 7 or 8 feet deep. Footing on solid rock is so narrow in many places that a sheep cannot turn around. It can be a treacherous journey to the green pastures.
When you hear that, you can understand why David describes from a sheep’s perspective the valley of the shadow of death. But David knew all of that. Paul acknowledged the fear of death by making sure that we understood death was conquered by and through the love of Jesus Christ.
That’s why in Romans 8:38-39 Paul writes,
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Again, more comforting words from Paul. A reminder that nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
If you're a Christ follower, when it comes time for you to die you have nothing to fear, for there is one who will protect you, who promises to walk beside you through that experience.
God’s path will have detours and broken roads, green pastures and quiet waters; barren land and raging rapids. It will all be there. Sometimes God’s road will lead to the beautiful land that feels like those mountain top experiences, and at other times, as David said ~
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
Your road and your staff, they comfort me.
So, what does David tell us to do when we are walking through the dark valleys?
Let’s break this verse apart section by section. Remember, the shepherds led their sheep through an ominous looking valley. It was scary to go through, you didn’t know who or what was going to attack. Would the sheep stay on task and stay on the path? It was treacherous and scary.
Shadows are always frightening, especially the one cast by Death. Without a shepherd we are entirely helpless in its presence. We can struggle with all of the other enemies - - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual - - enemies found in other people and situations and even within ourselves.
God has promised that he will protect us through the storms of life, giving us the courage and strength to make it to the other side. We need to look to God and what He offers us, so that we don’t become discouraged when we are moving through the valley.
2 things I noticed 2 about the phrase I will fear no evil.
First ~ God doesn’t panic when you’re in the valley. But neither do His sheep. The picture we get from this verse is that the sheep aren’t frightened as they pass through the valley. Look at this verse again. Notice that it says that “I walk” through the valley. It doesn’t say – “I run.” It doesn’t say, “I shake in my boots.” It says “I walk.” I don’t need to panic.
Second ~ Look at the words, “I will.” “I will” is a matter of choice. "I will" fear no evil. “I will” overcome this problem. With God’s help, “I will” get out of this valley.
Maybe part of the problem is the need for an attitude adjustment. Refuse to be discouraged. You can’t go around the valley. You can’t go over the valley. You must go through the valley. I will not be afraid. Not because I’m strong and tough, but because I trust in the promises of God, even if I don’t understand - - - even if I don’t like His plan at all. Through it all, I will trust God’s plan, even if I hate the path He’s leading me through. I will walk through this valley.
But there is even more to it then just willing yourself through your problems isn’t there? There’s another reason why you should refuse to be discouraged. David reminds us of this great promise ~
For You are with me ~ Psalms 23:4
God is with you every step of the way. God promises His presence.
God will not fail you, He will not forsake you, He will not abandon you, He will not bail out on you. It does not matter how bad you’ve been . . . He won’t leave you! God never breaks His promises . . . NEVER!!
Notice the tone of the psalm changes at this point. The Psalm becomes more personal. Now, “You are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort me.” When you’re going through dark valleys you don’t want to talk about God – you want to talk to God. Religion becomes a relationship. God says “I am with you. I will lead you through this.” We need to know and trust that God is right there with us.
We hold onto the fact that Jesus also said,
20 I am with you always, even to the end of the age. ~ Matthew 28:20 He is with us - - - - - - ALWAYS!!!!
It’s God’s gift of Himself to us. He offers us His company or companionship. But we must be willing to follow Him. We must be willing to let God in. It’s why I love Revelation 3:20 so much ~
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Our relationship with Jesus is contingent upon our opening the door to Jesus. He’s knocking, but will we open the door to Him . . . and look at His promise to us — if we open the door to Him, Jesus will come in with us and eat with us and we will eat with Him. It shows the personal aspect of our relationship with Him.
We not only need God, but we need one another, that’s one of the beauties of the church. When a church is working right, the people meet the needs of the people through the power and grace of God. It is one of the great strengths of this church. We are there for one another. We celebrate together and we grieve together. We are a body of believers who is there to help one another in the good and not so good.
Ken Davis says, "Our problem is, we try to perpetuate the perception that we are perfect. But the person who can admit that they are not perfect is the one the shepherd leads. The shepherd does not lead the perfect, because they cannot admit the need to be led. The shepherd leads His sheep.”
This verse ends with Your rod and your staff, they comfort me ~ Psalm 23:4.
The rod and staff are basic tools for a shepherd. The rod is basically two feet long and has a knot at one end. Shepherds train to use the rod so they can protect the sheep from anything that could bring danger to them. Many wild dogs and lions lived in the shadows of the valley, looking for prey. The shepherd would use his rod as a weapon. Thus the sheep have learned to fear no evil even in the Valley of the Shadow of Death, for their master is there to protect them from harm.
The staff is a long stick with a hook at the end of it. The staff is used to pull sheep out of a ditch or to pull them closer to the shepherd’s side. Remember, the shepherd’s job is to protect and nourish the sheep. God has promised us His protection. Jesus said,
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. – John 10:27-28
In John 10, Jesus spoke about being the Good Shepherd, the One who lays down His life for His sheep. Jesus is reassuring us that His sheep, me and you, hear His voice and we follow Him. When we follow Jesus, we gain eternal life, we will never lose our eternal life and nobody and nothing can snatch us from His hands! That is comforting!!
I want to step back and close with 3 quick thoughts about shadows. And share a personal story ~
1. Shadows are always BIGGER THAN REALITY. Often times, fear is greater than the problems we face.
2. Shadows cannot HURT YOU. Have you ever been run over by a shadow? There is a big difference between a truck and a shadow. Shadows can not hurt you – they can only scare you.
3. Shadows only appear when there is a LIGHT SOURCE. You may be in a dark valley right now – but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The Bible says God is light – and in Him there is no darkness. Trust that the light is God’s light, His presence, as He promises to be with us in the valleys of life.
Around 15 years ago, I was taking a doctoral class in Chicago. While I was there, I met with my sisters, Susie and Janet. In 2003 Susie was suffering from previous back surgeries, a mastectomy, lupus, fibromyalgia, numerous medications and their impacts, physical, emotional, spiritual and financial. Susie was also Jewish. Susie died in 2005. Janet has been a Christian for almost 40 years.
Susie asked a spiritual question about our mom and her faith, my mom died in 1990. This question led to a 2 ½ hour conversation about God and who Jesus is. During our conversation, Susie said she was very angry at God. As our discussion continued, Janet began to recite Psalm 23, when she got to verse 4, she said ~
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Susie jumped in and stopped Janet and said, “See this is a bunch of baloney, look at what God does to us.”
As our conversation got deeper, Janet and I asked Susie if she knew what the next part of the Psalm was . . . she didn’t know. And for many of us, that’s where we run into the same feelings Susie had.
This is how I explained the rest of the Psalm to her ~~
– God is our leader, if we allow Him, He will lead us to the right places, even those places we don’t like. Notice in the Psalm, David never said, “I stay in the valley.” He said - - I walk through. That’s huge to know! We don’t set up residence in the valley. We move through the valley. That’s not our final destination.
– We will all have valleys, nobody is immune,
We are living in the shadow of death. We might be experiencing dark and troubling times . . . It may mean a friend, a child, a spouse or parent, or maybe it’s us. It could be a multitude of life issues.
It is obviously not a mountain top experience, we’re in the valley . . . We can see the mountains all around us and we desire to get up there, and try as we might, on our own we cannot get there.
But when we have fully trusted in God to be our Shepherd . . . and this is the caveat . . . everything . . . and I mean . . . everything rests on this thought . . .
we must trust that Jesus is our Shepherd, nobody else and nothing else will do . . . When Jesus is the One who leads us, remember from verse 1, all of our wants are met. We will be able to say, “The Lord is my Shepherd, that is all I want.”
When we trust in Jesus and realize that He is leading His sheep, us, to the proper destination. He knows the way and we don’t. If He knows the way and we believe He knows the way, we should trust Him. Right? But, are we trusting Him? Or do we take matters into our own hands?
If Jesus is truly our leader, then we have nothing to fear. Death no longer scares us, we don’t want to die, we don’t want to lose our loved ones, but the fear is gone and confidence is there.
No evil can touch us, we are being protected by the Lord. Remember He has that rod and staff. What we also must understand is that He knows where we’re going. This is familiar path, not unfamiliar. So, the Shepherd is standing beside us. We read, “FOR YOU ARE WITH ME.”
What a great statement from David. We realize God is now walking or even crawling beside us, staying with us, just as a parent stays with their sick child, we find comfort.
You see, God is with us in a stronger way when we are in trouble. This can give us a sense of being invulnerable, in a time when we are most vulnerable. During our valley times we are vulnerable, but when we are vulnerable to God, we become invulnerable because the only one we are listening to is God.
When we trust God we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.
I was reminded of the reason we named Joshua, Joshua - - I’ve said it before, but let me remind you of Joshua 1:9,
Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you may go.
Isn’t that a beautiful statement of confidence from God. Moses had died and Joshua was about to lead a very rebellious people into the promised land. He was now their leader, and I can imagine he was a little anxious, and God spoke these words to Joshua before the crossed the Jordan River.
The point God was making is that we should be strong and filled with courage; we don’t need to be needlessly afraid nor discouraged and disheartened . . . all for the same reason, the Lord our God will be with us. He promises to be with us, it’s a promise we can always count on.
Because of all these promises we find that God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. We may be persecuted, maybe by friends, maybe by enemies. And in spite of being pushed and pulled by our enemies, we come to see that God is with us and has even prepared a table filled with the choicest foods and drinks. It’s as if we are able to look out of a plexiglass window, see our enemies, and know they cannot touch us, because God is protecting us, and we can eat and be nourished in peace, knowing God is with us.
You remain confident and secure even in the midst of your enemies. It may be that sales have dropped, earnings have decreased, budgets have increased, clients have dwindled, grades have gone down, disease has invaded your body, weight has been put on, yet you can stand with confidence, you still feel God’s anointing that somehow this will work out, you feel blessed by God and you can even exclaim that your cup, your good fortune, overflows.
You feel so blessed, there is joy, mercy, gladness and it will follow you all the days of your life. You are so confident in the promises of your Savior, that you can rest in His arms of love and grace.
And so we come to the end of our time looking at Psalm 23:4, which concludes with the great reminder in verse 6, with the promise that we will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.
I told Susie, if I were to leave tonight and never make it home, if my car crashed or something tragic happened, I have confidence God would be with me in those final moments, just as He is with me in these moments. And I would dwell in the house of the Lord, forever. Jesus told the disciples He was going to prepare a place for each of us, it would be a mansion with many rooms, and there would be a place that has my name on it. And I would dwell in the house of the Lord, forever and ever, all because I followed the Shepherd.
That is how Susie, Janet and I left it. Susie and I had one other long conversation about life and faith.
My hope for each of us, is we will follow the Shepherd, and learn from Psalm 23, how God loves us, comforts us and empowers us. But . . . the requirement, is that the Lord is our Shepherd. He’s our leader, our Savior, our Master! And we follow Him.
