The Shepherd And His Sheep (4) Series

TEXT: PSALMS 23:4 (NLT)

"Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me."

Fear in the valley of the shadow of death

"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" (Ps 23:4).

Wherever darkness reside, fear reigns. A valley is a low point between two mountains, it symbolises a low level or condition in someone's life. The valley of the shadow of death represents a low point in life when fear, depression, despair and death holds sway. It is not a good place to be. The Lord will lift you from the valley of the shadow of death in Jesus name.

Walking through the valley of the shadow od death

Life is a culmination of mountains and valleys. Once in a while, the sheep walks in the valley of the shadow of death. Job walked through such a valley. Daniel, Joseph, the three Hebrew youths all passed through their own valleys. Every disciple will encounter the valley of the shadow of death. Job 3:2-3 says: "And Job spake, and said, "Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived."

The good news for the sheep is that the shepherd is always close by, even in the darkest valley. He said in Heb 13:5: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb 13:5). The good shepherd will never abandon his obedient sheep. The Lord will see you through all your troubles and challenges in Jesus name.

The Shepherd's rod and staff protects and comforts the sheep.

The rod and staff of the shepherd offers protection and comfort to the sheep. The good shepherd promised the sheep that he would send them another comforter, the Holy Spirit - the great Comforter (John 14:26).

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever" (John 14:16). He says: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:21). Again he said: "...call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me" (Ps 50:15). If you are an obedient disciple, be rest assured that the Lord is always with you, in you and around you. The Holy Spirit, the Comfortet dwells in you. The valley of the shadow of death is just a place you are passing through. Even as you walk through it, the allies with you and in you are greater and more powerful than those living in the valley of the shadow of death. You will come out of your darkest valley triumphant like Jesus, Daniel, Job and the three Hebrew youths in Jesus name. The mark of Jesus is upon your life. The name of Jesus is just a call away and the blood of the Lamb will avail for you. Fear not, the Lord says; "I will help you."

PRAYER:

Father, help me by your mercy to come out of the troubles and challenges of my life victorious in Jesus name.

God bless you. Shalom.