'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.' (Psalm 23:4)
There are 5 THINGS in this verse from Psalm 23 that can be of great encouragement and comfort to us when it feels like we are going through the tough times in the VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH!!
Let’s take a look!
1.YOU ARE ONLY WALKING THROUGH THE VALLEY, not staying in the valley by the grace of Jesus!!
Notice David says in Psalm 23:4 ‘Even though I WALK THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death..'
By God's grace, the trials we are going through will only be for a season, even if that season feels lifelong. The Lord will give us the strength to endure and get through it to the other side!! There is light at the end of the tunnel!
The Lord says in Isaiah 43:2 ‘When you pass THROUGH the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass THROUGH the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk THROUGH the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’
2.JESUS PROMISES HE WILL BE WITH YOU IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH!! He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Notice David says in Psalm 23:4
'I will fear no evil FOR YOU ARE WITH ME'.
As a Christian, You are not alone when you are going through the trials of life, our saviour Jesus is right there with you and he will give you His strength to endure!! In Daniel 3:24-25, The Lord was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire!!
3.JESUS WILL COMFORT YOU IN THE VALLEY.
King David says, ‘Your rod and your staff, they COMFORT ME.'
The God of all comfort will be there with you to give you supernatural comfort in the tough times you go through!! (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
4.JESUS IS KING in the valley of the shadow of death!!
David said ‘Your ROD and your staff..'
The word for rod here in vs 4 is the word 'shebet' which also means Royal sceptre in the Hebrew!! This reminds us that Jesus is king over and has authority in the valley of the shadow of death!! HE RULES AND IS IN CONTROL OF YOUR VALLEY SEASON!
5.And FINALLY, what was the result of the valley? Notice that David goes from talking about God in vs 2-3 (“HE makes me lie down..... HE leads me..... HE guides me....”) to talking directly to God at the end of vs 4-5 (“...YOU are with me; YOUR rod and YOUR staff, they comfort me.... YOU prepare a table.... YOU anoint my head....”).
When did the language change? It was only AFTER DAVID WAS IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH!! In other words, it was the valley that brought David GREATER INTIMACY WITH GOD!
Will we realise that there is a bigger purpose behind the valley of the shadow of death and the trials we go through in life? That the reason God may allow those trials is because that is the very thing that will STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH AND DRAW US CLOSER TO JESUS? (See James 1:2-4, 1 Peter 1:6-7)
May these 5 things gives you strength and comfort from the Lord to help you get through your valley seasons!!
God bless!
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