Bible Study: "A Study of Psalm 23 Verse by Verse"
Date: (3/6/15)
Week: # 4
Title: (Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.)
Prayer:
Father God, though we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death daily, You are with us daily. We can safely place our trust in You because You have faced death on Your own terms and conquered it. Your victory purchased for us the promise of new life in Your heavenly Kingdom-eternal life. We are so grateful that You did this for us. We praise Your holy Name. Thank You for taking away the sting of death and replacing it with the promise of life everlasting. What a blessing to know this as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death; because we don't have to fear no evil we can now live in peace because You are always with us. Please keep teaching us that Your rod and Your staff they comfort us daily. Father God, You know that we need a new heart, not one that a doctor transplants, but one You change. Give us that newness of spirit that refreshes like the spring water which flows through the valley. Help us, Lord, to know the full meaning of this Psalm as we study it, and as we show ourselves approval unto You. Bless each Prayer Warrior of this community, Lord. Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers today. Thank You. AMEN.
Text: Psalm 23:4, "Even when I walk through the darkest valley I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." is Testimony of Security.
There is a valley called The Valley of the Shadow of Death in Palestine. It is located beyond the hills of Bethlehem and toward the Dead Sea. A spring breaks forth at the foot of the Mt. of Olives 2700 feet above sea level, about 1/2 mile high, and starts a valley that through the centuries has cut deep into the earth. It goes all the way to the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below sea level. Today, it is called the "Wadi Kelt" on the maps. You can travel on the narrow road that is cut through this valley. This area is scary. One would not want to be there alone.
It is really a little Grand Canyon, 1500 feet deep in some places. In Bible times, the bear, the lion, the leper, the hyena, and robbers waited in the shadows and the caves to spring upon the flocks and the shepherd. It was a treacherous valley - a dark valley of perpetual shadows and dangers.
It was a valley through which all shepherds had to lead their sheep. In the winter, they would pasture at Jericho. When the spring rains came in the Judean Desert, the hills would break forth with flowers and green grass. The shepherds would turn their flocks out of the lowlands into the mountains to the spring pastures, through this, the valley of the shadow of death. They named it "Shadow of Death" because the possibility of danger and death was always present when they entered it.
This valley could just as well be named the "Valley of Worry and Fear." The uncertainty of what they might encounter could very well produce both in the hearts and minds of those who entered.
David did not worry about nor fear this valley as he entered it. He knew who his Shepherd was and he knew what He was able to do. For David, it was a walk in the park. He knew he wasn't walking alone. "...I will fear no evil for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me."
What About the Valley Experience? Each one of us at some point in our Christian walk will encounter a valley to pass through that will try to produce worry and fear in us. What will be a comfort to us when this happens? The answer is the promises of God and the Holy Spirit. They become His presence - His rod and His staff that will be a comfort to us when this happens.
Examples:
1. Does your valley cause you to be worried, anxious, afraid, or troubled?
God will give you peace. "Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust in God: trust also in Me...Peace I leave with you, My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14: 1,17).
2. Does your valley cause you to be worried about the future?
God will guide you. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you" (Psalm 32:8).
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" (Proverbs 3:5).
3. Does your valley cause you to be afraid of feeling alone?
God will never leave you.
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you:" (Deut. 31:6).
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you:" (John 14:18).
4. Does your valley cause you to be depressed?
God will comfort you.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).
5. Does your valley cause you to worry because you face opposition?
God is with you.
"If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom. 8:31).
6. Does your valley cause you to worry about your safety?
God will protect you.
"The Lord will keep you from all harm; He will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore" (Psalm 121: 7-8).
7. Does your valley worry you so much you can't sleep?
God will ease your fears.
" When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet" (Proverbs 3:24).
Let's talk about the Rod:
"Thy rod ... comfort(s) me." It was the rod ever ready in the shepherd's hand that had saved the day for us.
We turn now to discuss and consider the shepherd's staff. In a sense, the staff, more than any other item of his personal equipment, identifies the shepherd as a shepherd. No one in any other profession carries a shepherd's staff. It is uniquely an instrument used for the care and management of sheep -- and only sheep. It will not do for cattle, horses or hogs. It is designed, shaped and adapted especially to the needs of sheep.
The staff is essentially a symbol of the concern, the compassion that a shepherd has for his charges. No other single word can better describe its function on behalf of the flock than that it is for their "comfort."
Whereas the rod conveys the concept of authority, of power, of discipline, of defense against danger, the word "staff" speaks of all that is longsuffering and kind.
The shepherd's staff is normally a long, slender stick, often with a crook or hook on one end. It is selected with care by the owner; it is shaped, smoothed, and cut to best suit his own personal use.
Somehow the staff is of special comfort to the shepherd himself. In the tough tramps and during the long weary watches with his sheep, he leans on it for support and strength. It becomes to him a most precious comfort and help in his duties.
There are three areas of sheep managment in which the staff plays a most significant role. The first of these lies in drawing sheep together into an intimate relationship. The shepherd will use his staff to gently lift a newborn lamb and bring it to its mother if they become parted. He does this because he does not wish to have the ewe reject her offspring if it bears the odor of his hands upon it.
...the staff is used by the shepherd to reach out and catch individual sheep, young or old, and draw them close to himself for intimate examination. The staff is very useful this way for the shy and timid sheep normally tend to keep at a distance from the shepherd.
The staff is also used for guiding sheep. Again and again I have seen a shepherd use his staff to guide his sheep gently into a new path or through some gate or along dangerous, difficult routes. He does not use it actually to beat the beast. Rather, the tip of the long slender stick is laid gently against the animal's side and the pressure applied guides the sheep in the way the owner wants it to go. Thus the sheep is reassured of its proper path.
Being stubborn creatures sheep often get into the most ridiculous and preposterous dilemmas. I read this coming from a shepherd, and want to share it now. "I have seen my own sheep, greedy for one more mouthful of green grass, climb down steep cliffs where they slipped and fell into the sea. Only my long shepherd's staff could lift them out of the water back onto solid ground. Another common occurrence was to find sheep stuck fast in labyrinths of wild roses or brambles where they had pushed in to find a few stray mouthfuls of green grass. Soon the thorns were so hooked in their wool they could not possibly pull free, tug as they might. Only the use of the staff could free them from their entanglement. "
Spiritually speaking, Jesus as our Shepherd, we can depend on Him when we get in trouble because of our stubbornness and walk away from His presence. In His presence we are protected and safe. We have a Good Shepherd that will keep us by His staff, which is His Word and our trust in Him daily. Some people don't understand this, but God's Word will keep us safe. We must trust and believe in His Word. Some may ask, "How will keep us safe through His Word?" In dark places, spiritually speaking now, we can depend on His Word to be a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path; which is another one of David's psalm, amen. We can find peace in the midst of the storm any day. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me all my days.
You read about the green pastures and quiet waters and you might think they are the primary blessing of the Shepherd, but they're not. The green pastures and quiet waters eventually give way to "walk(ing) through the valley of the shadow of death"(v.4). The constant in this psalm is not the green pastures--they are temporary. The constant in this psalm is not the valley of the shadow of death--David says we eventually walk "through" it. The only constant in Psalm 23 is the presence of God, "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for
Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."
The blessing of the Shepherd is not an elimination of our problems. The blessing of the Shepherd is not an elimination of our enemies. The blessing of our Shepherd is a table for two prepared in the presence of our enemies (v.5). And the table, of course, is symbolic of our fellowship with Him. Our relationship with Him is so important. This psalm is teaching us to trust God in our relationship with Him. We have to get it in our hearts that the Lord is our Shepherd.
Different Version: Week # 4 (NLT) New Living Translation
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Word of the Week (# 4) Peace
1. a. the state existing during the absence of war
b. (as modifier): peace negotiations.
2. (modifier) denoting a person or thing symbolizing support for international peace: peace women.
3. (often capital) a treaty marking the end of a war
4. a state of harmony between people or groups; freedom from strife
5. law and order within a state; absence of violence or other disturbance: a breach of the peace.
6. absence of mental anxiety (often in the phrase peace of mind)
7. a state of stillness, silence, or serenity
8. at peace
a. in a state of harmony or friendship
b. in a state of serenity
c. dead: the old lady is at peace now.
9. hold one's peace keep one's peace to keep silent
10. (Law) keep the peace to maintain or refrain from disturbing law and order
11. make one's peace with to become reconciled with
12. make peace to bring hostilities to an end
God's Name: God is Jehovah-Shalom: The Lord our Peace (Judges 6:24)
(The above names fit this Psalm perfectly. Note how each name is in this Psalm.)
"Father God, You have so many wonderful Names. May I search out the Scripture and really get to know You by Your Names. Each one has a special meaning and gives me deeper understanding to Who You are. Reveal Your character to me today. Amen."
Question of the week: What protection or comfort does the Lord provide when one walks through the valley of the shadow of death?
Questions:
1). In the Judean desert there's a valley name the shadow of death, why did they name it this?
2). What could be another name for the valley of the shadow of death?
3). Why David did not worry or fear when he was in the valley of the shadow of death?
4). What will be a comfort to us when we are in the valley of the shadow of death?
5). What are some scriptures that gives us comfort when we are in the valley?
6). Explain the rod in this scripture.
7). Explain the Shepherd's staff.
8). What is the difference between the rod and the staff?
9). What comfort is the staff to the Shepherd?
10). Explain the rod, the staff, and the Shepherd spiritually.
11). Spiritually speaking, if we walk away from our Shepherd, what will happen?
No comments:
Post a Comment