Sermon Title: OUR SHEPHERD IN THE VALLEY
Scripture Text: PSALM 23:4
Sermon Series: SUMMER IN THE PSALMS
Sermon Notes:
PSALM 23:4 ESV
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
“shadow of death”
Hebrew: sal-ma-wet, | “darkness” or “dark shadows”.
Actually, some translations simply use “darkest valley” Like the NIV and NLT, which both say:
Even though I walk through the darkest valley...
“Dark times are part of life’s journey, just as dark valleys are part of the sheep’s journey.”
I. OUR SHEPHERD HAS MADE US SAFE AND SECURE
“Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s pathway even for a moment. The shadow of a dog cannot bite. The shadow of a sword cannot kill. The shadow of death cannot destroy us.” — Charles Spurgeon
“Jesus’ death and resurrection has secured our souls for eternity!”
MATTHEW 10:28 ESV
8 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
“God is our Shepherd! Not our destroyer. He is for us, & not against us!”
ROMANS 14:8 ESV
8 If we live, it’s to honor the Lord. And if we die, it’s to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
“Our Good Shepherd has made our darkest valley a safe place for us to pass through.”
II. OUR SHEPHERD COMFORTS US
PSALM 23:4b ESV
4b ...for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Three ways the Shepherd comforts us in the valley:
1. HIS PRESENCE
The picture that David paints of our Good Shepherd here, is Not as the know-it-all (although He IS), but as the presence-in-it-all.
MATTHEW 28:20
20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age
“In the dark valley, remember, God is closest! God is most present! God is most available!”
Our Shepherd comforts us in the valley with His presence.
2. HIS ROD
For us Christians, the thing that we can count on again and again
to counter the attacks of enemies and correct us like the Shepherd’s rod is the Word of God.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Our Good Shepherd also uses the rod of God’s Word to correct and rebuke us when we stray away from the right path.
3. HIS STAFF
Before He left this world, Jesus explicitly told us that He would send us a guide who will lead us into all truth. He is the Holy Spirit and He is our Shepherd’s staff.
JOHN 16:13
13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth,
for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
ROMANS 8:16
6 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
“Our Good Shepherd comes and tenderly delivers us out of our dilemma, by His Spirit.”
JOHN 14:26
26 But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.
1 CORINTHIANS 3:16
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
2 Applications:
1. Walk through the valley
The sheep only walks through the valley.
They do not “stay in” the valley because it is not their home.
They do not even linger there because it is not their destination also.
For us, to “walk through” means that, when we come upon a problem, a trial, a time of darkness, we are to persevere through it.
“Our perseverance should be seen in our drawing near and staying close to our Shepherd. No matter how much we are tempted to act according to how we feel, we are to turn our eyes to God and keep reminding ourselves that He is in charge.”
Perseverance is the key to accomplish God’s purposes of our dark times: which is first, our Christlikeness or spiritual maturity; and ultimately, for the honor and glory of our Lord, our Shepherd.
JAMES 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
2. Fear No Evil
Remember the shadows? and how evil and darkness cannot harm us anymore?
It is only because our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ has secured our souls:
- by absorbing God’s wrath to our sins and
- by dying to pay the consequence of sin and
- by rising back to life, He conquered sin and death for us!
1 CORINTHIANS 15:55-57
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Shepherd has conquered the ultimate evil of sin and death for us, He has made us safe and secure even in the valley.
“Trusting God is a refusal to give in to fear. It is a turning to God even in the darkest times and trusting Him to make things right according to His will.” — gotquestions.org
No one is exempted from going through dark times in life. The duration and intensity may vary but Jesus promised that:
JOHN 16:33
33 In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
Indeed, the valley of darkness may be inevitable,
but just as inevitable is the presence of God actively involved in our life.
He has made us safe and secure for eternity, And He comforts us through His presence, His Word and His Holy Spirit. So let us persevere and not fear.