#5
“The Lord Is With You”
Series
"THE LORD IS WITH YOU IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH!"
TEXT: Psalm
23:1-6
INTRO: A Pastor had a silk
threaded bookmark that on one side had a motto that was clearly readable. The back side of the bookmark however
looked like a mess ... a bunch of jumbled up threads that crisscrossed with no
apparent design. This Pastor used
it when he did visitations on Christians who were undergoing trials that didn't
seem to make sense. He would first
show them the back side of the bookmarker and ask what they saw ... their
response was always the same, "nothing except a bunch of tangled silk
threads." Then he would
turn it around and let them see the design that after all did exist, and the
motto that read, "GOD IS LOVE." That side made sense; it had definite
order to it. He would then explain
that this is often the way we see life, we see it from the backside, a tangled
hodgepodge of threads that don't seem to have any design, yet when viewed from
God's position it makes perfect sense, even the more painful and unpleasant
moments help create the overall design that read: “GOD IS
LOVE!” This is getting
the clearer and bigger picture!
David
in writing this most famous of Psalms does this ... he weaves a picture of God
as Shepherd, and we as His sheep ... and the overview of our entire life; even
the most unpleasant part of life we call death!
It
is here that we learn that the LORD “IS WITH US EVEN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH ...
we need not fear any EVIL!”
PROP.
SENT: While life
contains good times it also holds trips through the “valley of the
shadow of death!” While
it is easy to sense God's presence during the good times it's also important to
know that God is present “in the valley of the shadow of
death!”
I. LIFE’S DIRECTIONS 23:1-3
A. No
Negligence! 23:1
1. Notice how carefully David refers
to God in this passage, as he writes about “the BIG
PICTURE.”
a. God is not referred to here as a
King sitting in a palace to rule over His people from some distant or majestic
place while we run around on the planet getting by the best we
can!
b. David calls God “a
Shepherd” ... they are unique in their profession because they don't
punch a time clock ... and they don't live separate lives from the sheep they
watch over!
c. Shepherds ate, slept, walked, fought, and
lived right along side the sheep ... where He went they went, and where they
went he went!
2. A king might know his citizen’s
needs ... but he might forget them or ignore them while busying himself in his
own palace ... but a shepherd cannot ignore his sheep, he lives with them,
experiences everything they do, foregoes the luxuries of a king for the
difficulties of life with sheep!
3. For sheep this is a wonderful
relationship ... shepherds provide the framework for the entire needs of
sheep in everyday life!
a. Protection from
enemies.
b. Guide for proper
food.
c. Security and sense of
well-being.
d. Leading to adequate supply of
water.
e. Knowledge about dangers while
traveling.
f. The sense of greater power to
handle the unknown.
g. The knowledge that life is not
lived alone or without purpose.
4. Since the “LORD IS MY
SHEPHERD ... I SHALL NOT BE IN WANT!”
B. Notices
Needs! 23:2
1. The metaphor of "green
pastures" means "ALL THAT MAKES LIFE
FLOURISH."
a. It is a place of rest – contentment and
peace.
b. It is place or renewal. (The food that provides our daily
strength)
c. It is place of revitalization. (Lying down indicates the sense
of security the sheep feel from the shepherd ... sheep don't easily
relax!)
2. "Leading beside
quiet waters" is a metaphor for a resting
place.
a. It is a place of refreshing. (The symbol of
water)
b. It is a place of relaxing. (Quiet waters ... lack of
turmoil)
3. The point of these two things
indicates that God notices the needs we have as His sheep and He provides those
needs willingly and joyfully!
ILLUS: PHILIP
KELLER, ONCE A SHEPHERD HIMSELF, WROTE A BOOK ENTITLED, "A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT
PSALM 23" AND HE DESCRIBES THE FACT THAT SHEEP NEED 4 THINGS BEFORE THEY WILL
LIE DOWN ... IT IS THE SHEPHERD'S JOB TO TRY AND BRING THESE 4
THINGS;
1. DUE TO SHEEP'S
TIMIDITY, THEY MUST BE FREE OF ALL FEAR ... HENCE QUIET
WATERS.
2. DUE TO THEIR
SOCIABILITY, THEY MUST BE FREE FROM FRICTION WITH OTHER
SHEEP.
3. THEY MUST ALSO BE FREE
OF PARASITES AND FLIES IN ORDER TO RELAX.
4. THEY MUST BE FREE FROM
HUNGER BEFORE THEY CAN RELAX AND LIE DOWN; IT IS ONLY THE SHEPHERD WHO CAN
PROVIDE THESE 4 THINGS!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
C. New
Name! 23:3
1. "He restores my
soul." Our Shepherd is
not only concerned about our material well-being; He is also concerned about our
spiritual well-being!
a. The implicit understanding here is
that our soul is in need of restoration!
b. Secondly, we are incapable of
restoring it ourselves!
2. This restoration of our soul
includes being led down “paths of
righteousness!”
a. What are those
paths?
b. They are God's Word, His principles
of right living.
c. Righteousness is not something we
create, it is something God has created, they are His paths; and He has not left
us without the ability to know them ... we have the
Bible!
3. Why does the good Shepherd “restore our soul
and lead us in paths of righteousness?” It is “for HIS NAME' S
SAKE!”
a. So that we will know Him as He
truly is!
b. And so others will come to know the
real God through us!
4. These paths lead us through
dangerous places with peace of mind ... they are sure pathways that have proven
to be safe by the Shepherd!
a. It is important to realize this
before reading the next verse that talks about “walking through
the valley of the shadow of death” ... a scary
place!
b. Is there a safe path not only
through this life but through death?
c. Our life on secure paths will only
bring honor to God's name!
d. Therefore, when we disregard those
paths of righteousness we dishonor our Shepherd's
name!
II. LIFE & DEATH
23:4
A. Necessary
Nuisance 23:4a
1. The scene suddenly shifts from the
serene picture of resting sheep traveling secure paths to an ugly trip down a
place called “the valley of the shadow of
death!”
a. “Even though I
walk...” introduces the idea that at some point in time this will
happen to everyone!
b. These places existed in the Middle
East where shepherds took their sheep from one valley through a mountain range
to the next valley ... the dangerous paths in the mountains were often narrow
and dark, and in the shadows of the mountains!
c. They were slippery and dark paths
... making sight almost impossible!
d. Only a guide who had passed through
these dark paths could possibly know the way! Sheep had no choice but to trust in
their Shepherd who knew the way through!
2. Jesus has already traveled the
road of death to the other side, surely He knows the way through
safely!
a. The point here is that because of
the Shepherd the sheep will “FEAR NO EVIL.”
b. It doesn't mean the sheep have
no fear, just no fear of evil!
Certainly this dark road is scary!
c. They can relax in the knowledge
that they are with their shepherd, one who would lay down his life for
them!
d. In this sense they did not have to
fear any evil!
e. The evil is Hell ... this we do not
have to fear.
3. Remember, it is only the “SHADOW OF
DEATH” ... it is just a path to a new valley where life
abounds!
ILLUS: DR.
DONALD BARNHOUSE WAS TELLING THE STORY OF WHEN HIS FIRST WIFE DIED, HE ALONG
WITH HIS CHILDREN WERE TRAVELING TO THE FUNERAL HOME IN DEEP GRIEF. DISTRACTED BY THE EMOTIONS THEY WERE
FEELING THEY DIDN'T SEE A LARGE MOVING VAN MOVING UP BEHIND THEM TO PASS
THEM. AS THE TRUCK SLOWLY
PASSED THEM A THOUGHT HIT HIM THAT HE THOUGHT WOULD HELP HIS CHILDREN, SO HE
ASKED THEM, "CHILDREN WOULD YOU RATHER BE RUN OVER BY THAT TRUCK PASSING US OR
ITS SHADOW?" HIS CHILDREN
RESPONDED, "WELL OF COURSE DAD THE SHADOW, IT CAN'T HURT US!" THIS IS THE WAY IT
IS FOR BELIEVERS ... ONLY THE SHADOW OF DEATH WILL TOUCH US, AND ITS EVIL CAN'T
ROB US OF ETERNAL LIFE THANKS TO OUR SHEPHERD!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
B. Not
Neglected! 23:4b
1. There are 2 things the Shepherd had
that allowed the sheep “to fear no evil!”
a. The
rod. This was a club like stick used mostly
as a sign of authority. It could be
used against an enemy, and at times it was used to discipline
sheep!
b. This kept both the enemy and the
sheep in line!
c. It is interesting to note that
David includes this item as a sense of COMFORT for the
sheep!
2. Unruly sheep were a danger to
themselves and to the others who might follow; hence the rod was used to protect
the sheep from poor judgment and thus poor
consequences!
a. God uses discipline in our lives
for the same purpose.
b. Those times of discipline should
serve as a comfort, even when the discipline is painful! Ultimately it is saving us from worse
situations!
3. The
staff. A long stick, usually without a curve on
the end.
a. It was used for guidance and
support and at times to pry a sheep out of a crag in a rock formation. Sometimes sheep fell into these crags
and got stuck!
b. Thus the staff was the instrument
of rescue as well as guidance!
c. The Scriptures often fulfill this
sense, they offer guidance to keep us from slippery places, or when we have
fallen they offer the mechanism to pry us free from a
trap!
4. David says that these items COMFORT
the sheep!
a. The term means REASSURANCE, in
other words everything is covered.
b. Even those ornery moments we have
of disobedience is covered by the equipment the shepherd has to restore
us!
c. Thus we feel even more secure,
secure not just in when we are ok, but in being stubborn sheep that need
discipline and assistance in getting out of tough
spots!
5. It is clear we are NOT NEGLECTED BY
OUR SHEPHERD!
III. LORD'S DELIVERANCE 23:5-6
A. Novel
News! 23:5
1. David shifts scenes now from the
flock to a banquet:
a. “You prepare a
table before me in the presence of my
enemies.”
b. This is a picture of a king
bringing someone under the protection of his power by including them in a
banquet meal in the palace!
c. Once a meal had been shared, a
covenant of peace was cemented by the parties; they were sworn to each other in
peace even if they had previously been enemies!
d. In here is a picture of the Lord's
supper ... we are invited to His table, the King of Kings, and His sharing this
meal with us cements the covenant of peace made in His own
blood!
2. What a novel concept ... preparing
a table in the presence of enemies!!!
a. No longer are we an enemy or alone
against our enemies, we are now under the protection of the king whose table we
ate from!
b. Therefore, we do not have to fear
what an enemy might attempt to do to us should the enemy attack, the king whom
we have shared bread with is sworn to come to our aid, it is a sealed covenant
of peace and protection!
c. The king will not go back on his
covenant to protect us ... if the enemy attempts to attack us the king sees it
as an attack on Him and He will respond with the full force of His power to
protect us as the covenantal partner!
3. He will also “anoint our head
with oil;” this was done by the king as a statement of honor ... a
way of telling the invited guest that they are special and
unique!
a. “You
anoint” literally means to “make fat!” It was an enormous blessing
and honor on the guest who was anointed.
b. It created an enormous sense of
self-respect for the one anointed!
c. It really built their
self-confidence! The king was
honoring them!
4. The next picture, “cup
overflows” – may indicate the exuberance of this
experience!
a. This is super abundance; the cup
can’t contain it all.
b. Both emotionally and practically
speaking!
c. This is the heart of the saved,
great joy that spills out in practical and emotional ways ... thanking God like
a modern day Pentecostal!
B. Never-ending Nurture!
23:6
1. What’s the conclusion to the fact
of having this SHEPHERD/KING!?
a. "Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life..."
b. There can be no other conclusion
than this after exploring the preceding verse and the truths they
portray!
c. You see, David has just reached a
conclusion while looking at the BIG PICTURE and the only conclusion is “GOODNESS AND
MERCY!”
2. For how long can we expect this
goodness and mercy? "All the days of
my life!"
a. What a tremendous
picture!
b. What a SHEPHERD/KING we
serve!
3. WHAT THEN IS MY RESPONSE TO ALL
THIS?
a. "I will dwell in
the house of the lord ... forever!"
b. The believer that understands the
love the Shepherd and King has for his life won't have to be made to feel guilty
to attend church or make it a priority ... it will become that saint’s
PASSION!
c. Even eternity will not remove us
from the Lord's House! David never
had to coaxed into going up to the Lord’s house, he loved
going!
d. If we are going to HAVE CHURCH IN
HEAVEN FOREVER ... WHY NOT GET INTO PRACTICE NOW!
4. It is clear that we need to get the
big
picture!
CONCLUSION:
This
is the "big picture"
Psalm! It shows God's love and
care for us in our past, present, and future ... even in death the Lord will be
with us! In the "big picture" God's presence and care
will manifest itself even in the “shadow of death!” God is not just a king ruling from a
palace ... He is the shepherd living with His
sheep!