God’s Comfort in the valley

Psalms 23

1 The lord is my shepherd; I shall not want

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters

3 He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake.

4 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.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever

“God’s Comfort in the valley”

4 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.

Valley of the shadow of death

- - Deep darkness
    - Describe
  - Describe 2019

I will fear no evil, instead I will have God’s comfort in the valley

*1, I will have God’s comfort in the valley because He is with me*

- - 1) Why? Because you are with me

Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

- Our God is bigger than whatever we may fear
- Psalm 27:1 1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 8:37 in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us
- 2) **I will have God’s comfort in the valley because God knows im in the valley**
  - If I’m in this valley, God knows I’m there and if He knows I’m there, He is allowing me to be there, If He is allowing me to be there then I can trust Him even in the valley
  - I can trust His sovereign plan for my life

Matthew 10:29-31

29Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

- - He is a shepherd that knows where all His sheep are!
- *** (3) I have God’s comfort in the valley because of His Rod and Staff***

Your Rod and staff they comfort me

What is this rod and staff?
- rod- strength and power of God on your behalf
- staff- represents His leading you

I don’t fear this dark valley because I got the strength and power of God and I am being led by Him!
- What does the bible say about His strength in the valley of deep darkness?

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,a a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Isaiah 41:10-13

10 fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

11 Behold, all who are incensed against you

shall be put to shame and confounded;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12 You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

shall be as nothing at all.

13 For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Fear not,

I am the one who helps you.”

What does the bible say about Him leading you?
- Yes, I’m in the valley, but I am not alone, I have a guide, I have a shepherd that’s leading me!
- We have His word and His spirit to lead us
  - Psalm 119:105 your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
  - John 16:13 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

****(4) I will have God’s comfort in the valley because God is a gracious host***

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows

- God is our gracious host
  - Prepare a table (food)
  - Annoint my head (honored guests)
  - Overflowed cup (plenty to drink)
- What does this mean?
  - Just because you in the valley, that don’t mean that God is not still generously providing for you
  - You still got the oil, your cup still running over, He has still prepared a table for you
  - They can surround you, they can hurt you, but they still can’t keep you from your relationship with God!

Romans 8:35

35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Whats on that table? (verse 6)

*****5) I will have God’s comfort in the valley because of the Gospel****

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever

Goodness and mercy

Gospel

- - Because of the goodness of God He freely gave His life for you
  - Because of the mercy of God, He got what you deserved so that you could get what you don’t deserve
  - He went through that valley of deep darkness so that He could break the power of Satan Sin and Death and present you spotless before the Lord

*****6) I will have God’s comfort in the valley because I will praise Him in the valley*****

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever

- I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever
  - Praise and worship
  - When you find yourself in the valley of the shadow of death
    - Find comfort in the strength and leading of the Lord
    - And worship Him