THOU ART WITH ME - Psalm 23:4
Illustration:
An aeroplane was going through very rough weather and great turbulence. The Airhostess instructed all the passengers to be careful and fasten their seat belts. The turbulence increased, the plane was going up and down people were shouting and crying. A boy was very cool and not worried about the situation. Finally, the plane landed. Many asked that boy why you were not afraid of the situation. He told them “The Pilot of this flight is my DAD”.
Now our Life journey is also with turbulences. Nearly 177 countries are affected by ‘Coronavirus Disease’ and more than two-thirds of the World Population is under lockdown. So much a threat to life. The situation demands Social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine.
This COVID-19 categorized everyone as untouchable. There is a fear of death and fear of disease. The new quotations of present days are: “Divide we stand, unite we fall”. “Stand lonely to stay healthy”. In this context, the LORD would like to prompt all those who are listening to this sermon and viewing this video, that “HE IS WITH US”, Jehovah Shammah.
On the first day of this month, take courage and have great faith and confess with an unmovable trust in Almighty God and say: “THOU ART WITH ME”. David acknowledges that ‘The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want’. He continued to claim with great confidence “Thou art with me when I walk through the valley” in Psalm 23:4.
Let us reflect this statement of David with our life context based on three “Valleys” mentioned in the Bible concerning this present context of COVID-19.
Psalm 23:4 - Valley of the shadow of death
Psalm 84:6 - Valley of Baca (Weeping)
Joel 3:12 - Valley of Jehoshaphat (Judgment)
Valley:
As we all know, a VALLEY is a deep, narrow, dark ravines, extremely perilous and cheerless to walk through. They are cleft between the mountains (Deuteronomy 8:7, 11:11 and Psalm 104:8). Giants used to live in the valleys to terrify the sojourners and rob them (Joshua 15:8). Valleys are between the streams, and intersecting the countries with the bottom of the depressions.
1. VALLEY OF DEATH: (Read: Psalm 23:4)
Hebrews 9:27 says “Man is destined to die once and after that to face judgement”. So, death is unavoidable and it is fixed for all of us. 2 Samuel 14:14 says “Like water spilt on the earth, which cannot be recovered, so we must die.” Job 30:23 tells “Death is appointed for all the living”. Psalm 49:10 Says “all wise men, foolish and senseless will die one day”. Ecclesiasticus 8:8 warns “No one has power over the day of his death”. David sings, “I will fear no evil when I walk through the valley of death”. According to the Jewish understanding, the Valley of Mount Carmel is known as Valley of Death-Shadow.
Now, the valley of death for us is the COVID-19. It is a Plague, Epidemic, pandemic and threat to human existence. It bangs our doors and couches at the gate. Once affected by it, survival is far-reaching because there is no proper medicine to cure. Thanks to the doctors and medical personnel for helping patients to overcome their mental, emotional and physical challenges during the quarantine.
Bible talks about several plagues in history. According to Leviticus 26:21, ‘the plaque was increased seven times because of the sins of the people’. Numbers 11:33 records that ‘plaque was among people because of their meat, before it was chewed, the Lord struck the people with a very severe plague”. According to Zechariah 14:18 ‘, the plague will outburst if they do not observe the feast of Booths’. If they do not give rest to the Land. Now just compare how the land is resting from the movements of people.
David, a man after God’s own heart, expresses in 1 Samuel 20:3 saying “there is only a step between me and death”. He says in Psalm 18:4 and 116:3 ‘the cords of death encompassed me’. He prayed to God in Psalm 9:13, “Lift me from the gates of death”. Today, we are standing just one meter away from death. Social distancing emphasis one meter from one another because there is every possibility to get infected by the droplets of a person or through touch.
But David confidently says, “I Fear No Evil”. Fear weakens a person, leads to defeat. Courage and confident leads to victory. We should not have the fear of death rather safeguard the Temple of God, which is our BODY. The full life has to be lived by every person for the purpose, it created for. The promise given to God’s children was “No plaque shall befall you” (Exodus 12:13). Psalm 91 gives such great comfort to all of us during the times of Plagues.
No need to reason out, Why CORONA has come? No need to research, Who is behind this? No need to break our heads to know, Who is the author of CORONA, Whether it’s from SATAN to destroy God’s purposes? Or, Is it from God to punish the human race? But one thing is true, nothing happens on the earth without the knowledge of Almighty creator God. So, follow the rules of the Government observing Social Distancing, frequent washing of Hands, avoid close contact, for the sake of the Purpose of God in your life and the kingdom of God.
2. VALLEY OF Tears:(Read Psalm 84:6)
Weeping, shedding tears and lamentation comes out of failures, defeats, disappointment and death. A tear is a powerful tool to reach any person on the earth, its more powerful to reach God. Bible has plenty of examples of how saints used this tool to reach God on various occasions. Psalm 126:5-6. “Sow with tears to reap with joy”.
Haggar was sobbing for her son and the Lord heard her voice, she begged for a cup of water for her Son but God opened up a stream which will never dry (Genesis 21:16, 16:13). Jacob wrestled and prayer with tears for his salvation (Hoshea 12:4 and Genesis 32:24-25). Hannah cried unto the Lord in prayer for a son and she was answered by God (1 Samuel 1:7-8). David says that God loves the contrite and broken heart (Psalm 51:17). Hezekiah prayed to God with tears and his life extended for 15 more years (2 Kings 20:1-6 and Isaiah 38:5). A father sought Jesus with tears for the healing of his epileptic Son (Mark 9:17-27). Jesus weeps with those who shed tears (John 11:33-35).
Are you going through the valley of tears? Soon it will disappear and God would lead you to great Joy (Psalm 84:4-5). Because, He will wipe away all our tears (Revelation 7:17, 21:4), and he leads to a joyful life and no more lamentation in your life (Isaiah 65:19). Victory is yours. So let’s meditate the valley of Victory.
3. VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT Joel 3:12-14
In 1 Kings 20:28, we read that YHWH is a God of Valleys and Mountains. He creates streams in the valleys (Psalm 104:10 and Isaiah 41:18). The valley of Jehoshaphat gives us much information about valleys. The Valley of Jehoshaphat was also known as Valley of Barakah, i.e., Blessings (Read: 2 Chronicles 20:26).
Jehoshaphat means ‘Judgment of YHWH’. Here Jehoshaphat overthrew his enemies and got victory over the bunch of Kings who came against him. He made a powerful prayer in 20:6-12. This valley lies between ‘Jerusalem and Mount of Olives’. Mount Olives was the scene of Ascension, and it will be the scene of Judgement. Jerusalem was the place of Crucifixion and will be a place of the end for everything. This valley is also known as the valley of destruction and valley of Decision. Later called a valley of Slaughter (Jeremiah 7:31, 19:5) and the valley of Armageddon(Revelation 16:16). In 333 AD it was mentioned by Pilgrim Bordeaux as Valley of Kidron or valley of lilies.
The valley of death and valley of Tears find their end here with Lord Jesus Christ who was crucified and resurrected in Jerusalem and ascended into Heaven from Mount Olives. He is our Saviour. He brought an end to all our sorrows. He is God of Victory and success. He is the final Judge. So, our victories and our blessings are with Him.
The fear has gone. The fear of death has gone. The tears are wiped away. He is with us. As Psalmist says “THOU ART WITH ME”.
CONCLUSION
Remember that Jesus holds the Keys of Death (Revelation 1:18). The shadow of the Almighty (El-Shaddai) is greater than the shadow of death (Read: Psalm 91:1). Psalm 57:1 says “till the disaster passed away to keep me under thy shadow of your wings”.
Bible gives us many examples of how God stopped the plague hearing the prayers of people in the Bible. Numbers 16:47-49 says ‘Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them, he stood between the living and the dead’, and God stopped the plague with the death of 14,700.
We read in Numbers 25:8,10-13, Psalm 106:30, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron had a zeal for God and His people to establish the covenantal peace. So, he made atonement for Israelite. The plagues were stopped with the death of 24000 people.
We read in 2 Samuel 24:15-16 says ‘the Lord was grieved because of the calamity and said to the Angel to stop’ then we read in 24:25, King David ‘built an Altar to the LORD and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings’ 70000 people died of that Plague.
Ezekiel 22:30 calls for a man and a woman to spend time in prayer for the Land. To bridge the Gap. Let us make a chain of prayer in our city, nation and in the world to safeguard people from these Coronaviruses which are a large army of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases.
Also, we need to pray for other infections such as hatred, violence and enmity in the name of religion, region, language and cultures.
All we could do while we are lockdown in our houses is PRAYER. A sincere and serious prayer. If possible, fast and pray. Have a systematic prayer time. Let your house be a house of PRAYER.
Jehoshaphat made a powerful prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:6-12, finally he ends with these words “O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do but our eyes are upon you”.
Let me close with this verse: “For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end” (Psalm 48:14).
Let’s read together Psalm 23:4.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
God Bless You, Amen.
