“THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH”
Dr. Larry Petton
Psalm 23
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As we follow Jesus, our Good Shepherd, He will lead us beside the still waters in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. He will also lead us straight through VALLEYS at times. This message fits everyone of us, because we all face valleys in our lifetime. You may be facing one right now!
THERE ARE SIX KEY VALLEYS NAMED IN THE BIBLE. Each one has a spiritual application and significance for our life in Christ today.
(1) The Valley of SIDDIM – This is the very spot where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were. God looked down and saw the wickedness of those wicked cities and saw that they would not repent. This is a valley where sin abounded. This represents a low valley in our spiritual lives, the VALLEY of SIN.
(2) The Valley of ESCHOL – This is located just inside the Promised Land. Do you recall the grapes of Eschol? Remember those twelve spies who went over into the Promised Land and said it was a land that flowed with milk and honey. They brought back some grapes that were so big that it took two men to carry one bunch! But they made a wrong choice in the VALLEY of DECISION.
(3) The Valley of ELAH - Elah is where David looked out and heard Goliath, the giant of a man, shout his challenges against the God of Israel across the valley. Young David, the courageous Shepherd Boy, met Goliath and defeated him with only a slingshot in the valley of Elah. It is the VALLEY of COURAGE.
(4) The Valley of ACHOR. This is the valley where Achan lost his life for stealing what God declared was unholy and then lying to God to cover his sin. This is the VALLEY OF CHASTENING.
(5) The Valley of JEZREEL. This is the valley that is so important to believers because it is where the Bible says that Armageddon, the great end-times battle, will be fought and Jesus will conquer Satan and all evil as the great armies of the world gather together for battle. This is the VALLEY OF VICTORY!
(6) The Valley of GEHENNA. This was the garbage dump just outside of the walls of Jerusalem. It was a place of waste, darkness and death. It is the VALLEY of the SHADOW of DEATH.
NINE SAD REALITIES OF HELL – What kind of place is this?
(1) It is a REAL place.
(2) It is a SAD place.
(3) It is a place of JUDGMENT.
(4) It is an ETERNAL place.
(5) It is a place that we choose (Matthew 25:41, John 3:16).
(6) It is a place where there are degrees of JUDGMENT.
(7) It is a place that is not the FINAL HOME of the Lost.
(8) It is a place that absolutely breaks the HEART of God (II Pet. 3:8-9).
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT OUR VALLEYS IN LIFE?
(1) Valleys are INEVITABLE- John 16:33
(2) Valleys are UNPREDICTABLE – Jeremiah 4:20
(3) Valleys are IMPARTIAL – Matthew 5:45
(4) Valleys are TEMPORARY – I Peter 1:6
(5) Valleys are for BUILDING US UP, not for tearing us down – James 1:1-12
HOW TO TOTALLY WASTE YOUR VALLEY EXPERIENCE
(1) You will waste your valley experience if you don’t believe that it was designed JUST FOR YOU by God Himself.
(2) You will waste your valley experience if you think it is a curse from Satan and not a GIFT from God.
(3) You will waste your valley experience if you spend too much time worrying about your valley and not enough time WORSHIPPING the Lord.
(4) You will waste your valley experience if you allow it to drive you into SOLITUDE and you do not allow it to help you build better relationships with those whom God has placed around you.
(5) You will waste your valley experience if you grieve over your losses like unbelievers who have NO HOPE beyond this life.
(6) You will waste your valley experience if you come through this suffering with the same CASUAL APPROACH to personal sin in your life as you entered the valley.
(7) You will waste your valley experience if you fail to use this moment as an opportunity to WITNESS TO OTHERS who are unsaved of the power of Christ to carry us through the storms of life.
REMEMBER: Valleys are where we GROW the most. You will never reach a plateau in this sinful world where you will be free from valleys.
THINK ABOUT IT.
(1) Which of the 6 Valleys mentioned in our study spoke to you’re the most and why?
(2) The Valley of Eschol was the Valley of DECISION. Is there a decision that God spoke to you about making
during today’s sermon? What is it?
(3) Do you believe there is a literal place called Hell where Satan and his angels will be cast forever and where
unbelievers will live separated from God forever?
(4) Name a valley experience that God has taken you through in your life.
(5) How can a valley be a gift from God?
(6) Have you ever had a valley experience where you chose to become BITTER instead of better for Christ?
