The Twenty-third: You Are With Me.

Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

vs. 4 (NET)

Even when I must walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff reassure me.

Even when I must walk through the valley of deep darkness…

“The valley of death/deep darkness is a section of the trail that cannot be avoided. There is no bypass road and no magical escape. The only way forward is through the valley…”
-Kenneth Bailey “The Good Shepherd”

The valley of deep darkness is any area of our life that deeply concerns us.
– Brad Gray

What is deeply to you?

What do we do when we find ourselves in deep darkness?

The valley is not my designated place.

I will fear no evil.

1 John 4:18 (NIV)
18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

Greek: Punishment-Living in dread of what is coming…

The only way forward is through the valley with the one who promised His love would the fear of what is ahead.

For are with me.

Psalm 23:1-4 (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

The Psalm becomes deeply personal.

You are alone!

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Staff:

Rod:

The Shepherd uses the rod on the sheep.

Leviticus 27:32
New International Version
32 Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord.

My Shepherd is .

My shepherd is .