THE VALLEY IS A TEMPORARY PLACE
Psalms 23:1-6
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
A man was thrown out of the breakroom, yesterday, at Walmart. They asked him what he was doing there. He told them he was on a break. They said, “But you don’t work here.” He said, “Notice: I just finished using self-check-out, so clearly I do.”
B. TEXT
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Ps. 23:1-6
C. IDEA & TITLE
1. The valleys of life are not dead-end streets, because God provides a way for us to get through.
2. Title: “The Valley is a Temporary Place.”
I. THE NATURE OF VALLEYS
A. WHAT’S A VALLEY LIKE?
1. There is one thing that we all can be sure of: God is always at work. It’s hard to remember that when you face the trials and tribulations, NOT knowing what to do. But God always knows what to do.
2. We all go through valley experiences, and when we do, we wonder why God is allowing us to go through them. In Psalm 23, David speaks of a deep, dark valley where there seemed to be no ray of light and he felt like he wasn’t going to make it.
3. But valleys are not dead-end streets and the disappointments, frustrations, discouragements, and dilemmas we experience there shouldn’t be classified as an end. David even refers to them as a “shadow.”
B. OUR VALLEY IS THE ONLY ROUTE TO OUR PROMISE LAND; there’s no alternate route.
1. When the Egyptians chased the Israelites to the Red Sea there was no way for them to go around it, but God made a way for them to cross. God will always make a way.
2. Your valley may be the opposite of what you expected God to do. We often tell the Lord exactly how we want Him to help us and ignore the fact that He knows just what to do. This leads us to question God’s timing and solutions.
3. I’m guilty of it myself. I’ve moaned the words, “Lord why won’t you help me?” It’s so easy to lose our trust and give way to the fear.
4. David, the writer of Psalm 23, takes a possessive view of God; “The Lord is MY Shepherd!” We should ALL feel this way. David knew firsthand the duty of a shepherd; he faced the lion and the bear to protect his sheep. And he knew that God, as his shepherd, would stand between David and his danger. Jesus did the same for us too!
II. CONTRAST: VALLEYS & MOUNTAINS
A. YOUR “VALLEY” IS A ROAD, NOT A DWELLING
1. Where do you do most of YOUR living? Do you live on a mountain or in a valley? (I’m speaking metaphorically.) David mentioned “the valley of the shadow of death” he was actually referring to a physical location. That’s another name for the road between Jerusalem and Jericho where the Good Samaritan helped the man along the way. Shepherds had to take their flocks on it to get to the country fields.
2. It was a dangerous road because thieves & robbers would hide in the caves or ravines to steal sheep or waylay travelers. Normal people didn’t LIVE on this road; it was a traveling route. So my question is, where do YOU do most of your living? The mountaintop or the valley?
B. PURPOSE OF MOUNTAINS & VALLEYS
1. Mountaintop-experiences are places of revelation and awe, where we receive insight or inspiration from God. The mountaintop is where we hear a “Rhema Word,” and catch a vision of the promised land. It’s a place where we can feel God’s presence and hear God’s voice -- but the valley is quite different.
2. THE VALLEY IS WHERE WE DO OUR STRUGGLING. The average Christian experiences both the mountain-top and the valley, but most of life is lived in the valley. The valley is where life’s challenges are;
a. where battles are fought
b. where feelings are hurt and attitudes are developed.
c. where we struggle everyday with fears and hopes and painful circumstances.
3. The valley is inevitable. THE MOUNTAINTOP IS WHERE WE COME TO MEET GOD; BUT THE VALLEY IS WHERE GOD COMES TO MEET US!
C. GOD WILL MEET US IN OUR STRUGGLES
1. Remember: after every mountaintop experience there’s a valley, so you’re either GOING INTO one, COMING OUT of one, or in the MIDST of a valley.
2. Jesus made it clear to us, “In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” There will be people who’ll misunderstand us; criticize us, talk evil about us, and judge us unfairly as we struggle in our valley.
3. VALLEYS WILL COME. It’s not matter of “if,” it’s a matter of “when.” Valleys are a normal part of life—you CAN’T PLAN them, TIME them, or SCHEDULE them. They usually come at the worst possible moment – when there’s no time, when you’re unprepared, and no resources to deal with them.
4. Valleys just happen, they come on you suddenly, without any warning. It doesn’t matter how good you’ve been or how careful. Valleys are impartial; they happen to the rich and the poor, to men & women, to all ethnic groups – no one’s exempt.
5. David tells us a great truth: WE WILL GO “THROUGH” THEM! Every valley HAS A BEGINNING AND AN ENDING. (Can you say, ‘Praise the Lord?’) God will meet us there.
III. PROPER PERSPECTIVE OF VALLEYS
A. DON’T TAKE UP RESIDENCE IN THE VALLEY
1. Some people have stayed in their valley so long that they can’t imagine ever not being there. They’ve given up, stopped praying, and never attempt to go anywhere else. Their faith and hope have waned.
2. They need to see Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego who said, “Go ahead and put us in the fire, because we know it’s only a temporary place!” Or Moses who knew that the Red Sea was only temporary; or Daniel who knew that the lion’s den was just for 12 hours.
B. VALLEYS ARE SOMETIMES A GIFT FROM GOD
1. Valleys often leave us with scars. But believe it or not, someday, I think we’ll all view our valleys as a gift from God, because anything that brings us closer to Him is actually a gift.
2. ILLUSTRATION: Diff. Perspectives on the Same Trouble
a. A man was at a real estate convention in Colorado. He turned to the realtor on his left and said, "So, how are things going for you?" "Terrible," he said. "Haven’t you heard about the strikes? 80% of the people in this town are employed by just 2 firms and they’re both on strike! If things don't turn around soon, I'll go bankrupt."
b. He turned to the lady on his right and asked the same question. She said, "Haven't you heard about the strike?" "Yes." Then she went on, "Business couldn't be better. Since the strike I've sold more houses than ever because people know they’re going to get a raise & have time to plan their new home! If the strike continues, I'll be rich!" [Bruce Howell]
3. So even though valleys are temporary they actually do have a purpose. In I Peter 1: 6-7, we read, “Wherein you greatly rejoice...that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearance of Jesus Christ”
4. In other words, God allows valleys to come to test, shape, and purify us — and here’s where you shout — your faith is much more precious, to God, than gold.
5. God has good reasons for allowing us to go through our valleys. God’s a good God and takes no pleasure in evil or heartache. God allowed His only begotten Son to be tempted by the devil, to suffer, to be discouraged, to lose family members, and finally to die for us on a cruel cross. Jesus set us an example of how to go through the valleys of life.
C. GOD’S PRESENCE PROVIDES EVERYTHING
1. That’s why David said, “The Lord is my Shepherd” meaning “I have everything I need.” “He maketh me lie down in green pastures.” Imagine a sheep finding a mattress of soft, green grass, cool shade under
some tree, no noisy street traffic or worry from dangers or problems--just peaceful rest! “He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul.”
2. If we must walk through the “valley of shadows,” shadows will have no lasting effect on us, “For You are with me!”
3. Paul said, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us!” Rom. 8:35,37.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Dr. Andrew Bonar told how, in the Highlands of Scotland, a sheep would often wander onto the cliffs and get jump down 10-12 feet and get trapped on ledges. The shepherd heard them bleating, but would leave them for days in distress, until they’d eaten all the grass.
2. When they’re so faint that they can’t stand, the shepherd will lower himself down to save them. "Why does the shepherd wait so long?” "Because the sheep are so foolish that they’ll jump over the precipice and to avoid his grasp!"
3. And that’s the way PEOPLE are too; God has to wait until we’re utterly helpless & willing to surrender to save us! The Good Shepherd is ready, now, if you’re ready to surrender!
B. THE CALL
1. How many of you have been experiencing valleys lately? How many are on the mountaintop? How many need prayer?
2. PRAYER
[This is a rewrite of Spencer Miller’s message of the same name & text]
