Psalm 23 Pt 4 (Verse 4)
Psalm 23 NKJV
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads 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 You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs 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.
7 Key Characteristics Describing Who God Is:
#1) The Person #2) The Provision #3) The Purpose #4) The Promise #5) The Protection #6) The Prosperity #7) The Presence
#4) THE PROMISE (“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me;”)
1st Observation (“walk through”)
- Walk “through” — the key to His promise is that it’s temporary.
John 16:33 NKJV
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Tribulation =
- pressure, affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, trouble.
- A pressing, pressing together, oppression.
- If you are going through hell, keep going. Don’t stay there. Let God walk you out of there.
Romans 12:12 ESV
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
2nd Observation (“valley of the shadow of death”)
- “Valley” — dark low point between two high points.
- The Valley is the perfect place for an ambush by wolves, thieves and predators.
Romans 8:28 NKJV
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
- “Shadow” cannot hurt you. Our valley has no death… only a shadow.
“Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains…. 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.” — Spurgeon
Revelation 1:18b ESV
… I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
3rd Observation (“I will fear no evil; for You are with me.”)
- No need to fear, because His promise is that He is with us.
1 John 4:4 ESV
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
- Is your faith in God or in your feelings?
- You will either fear evil or fear God.
- Don’t focus on telling God what you feel! Tell Him what you know!
John 14:16-17 ESV
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
#5) THE PROTECTION (“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”)
Psalm 121 NLT
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all harm and watches over your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.
Two Types of Tools | Two Types of Protection:
A. Rod | Protection
- The rod is a symbol of the Lord’s strength & protection.
- The rod was a sturdy wooden stick used to fight off predators & thieves
B. Staff | Correction
- The staff is a symbol of the Lord’s guidance & lovingkindness.
- The staff was a long slender stick, sometimes with a hook, used to direct the sheep back into place when they would wander off.
- It is used to keep the sheep close to their Shepherd.
Psalm 73:28 NLT
But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.
- The staff is also used to keep count of the sheep (Leviticus 27:32)
- God protects us from the wolves but also from ourselves.
Ecclesiastes 12:11 ESV
The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd.
CONCLUSION
- We can be confident in God’s grace & care for us.
James 4:8 NLT
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.
- Are you close to Him? Or have you strayed/drifted away? Or you know you are not as close as you know He wants you to be? God wants to remind you to come close to Him… let Him comfort you.