Reflections on Psalm 23 Part 4

I am so encouraged by the truth of God’s word, it does not give a partial view of life but explains that life is not always a bed of roses. Psalm 23:4 says “ 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”. As I look back over my lifetime there have been many difficult times that I have had to go through. This is where I rejoice that the Lord has been my shepherd and that I have made Him Lord and saviour of my life. Matthew 5:45 says “That you may be sons of your Father in heaven, for He makes His sun rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust”. This verse reminds us that while we live on the earth there will be good and bad times and this happens to good and bad people. While as I look back over my life I know that there have been many severe trials, the good thing is that I have to think hard to remember them because the past is not of my every day living. The verse starts with the fact that it will be our experience, the verse starts with the fact that there will be trials that we will experience, but the verse also declares that we do not stop at our trials. It is sad when people choose to stay there and every time you talk to them all they talk about is their problems. The next thing the verse declares is that we walk through bad situations. Walking speaks of taking time but not stopping and always being on the move. This verse reinforces the truth that God always makes a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). This verse highlights that we are going through a valley, in the bible a valley is usually a fertile place, so it is important to understand those seemingly hard situations are an opportunity to experience God’s goodness. The Psalmist is quite adamant that in the tough times he will fear no evil.  It is good to be reminded that God is in control. Matthew 28:10 says “Then Jesus spoke to them (His disciples), saying’ All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth”. It does not matter what our situation looks like Jesus is in control with all authority. The Psalmist makes it very clear the reason that he does not fear the good shepherd is with him. As we are living in this season of a pandemic while the god of this world is trying to create a climate of uncertainty and fear. It does not matter what it seems to look like we have nothing to fear. The verse concludes with the reason for the sheep’s confidence, “Your rod and staff they comfort me”, this very interesting because the staff and the rod were used to make certain that the sheep obeyed the shepherd, they were instruments of correction. But the sheep took comfort that they were being led by the shepherd in the right direction. This is what God is doing all the time, His way is always the best.