“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 ESV
Thus far it has been a blazing hot summer with lots of humidity and sticky wetness . . .
no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 ESV
Thus far it has been a blazing hot summer with lots of humidity and sticky wetness . . .
Even as I write this journal entry from my prison cell, I cannot stop sweating. My tee shirt is soaking wet. We don't have air conditioning here.
However, I thank God that I have a small portable plastic fan which I've got sitting on the floor in front of me. This simple “made in China,” fan is my only amenity other than tap water from my sink that's keeping me from passing out. I'm exaggerating of course. But the heat and humidity have been dreadful.
In any event, for the past several days I have been doing a deep study of the Twenty-third Psalm. Which is no doubt the most often read portion of the holy Bible, other than John 3:16 in the New Testament.
But for now, my focus is on the fourth verse: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” wrote King David. He was a man who was dear to God's heart. And what David said was true. Death follows us wherever we go. Young or old, death trails our footsteps like a dark shadow. No exceptions!
However, what I've noticed is that there are other ways besides physical death, where we could experience great harm and loss. And this is where the devil comes in. While Satan cannot take our lives without God's permission, he will look for other ways to hurt His children.
And I have experienced this myself. How? While the devil has not killed me physically, and I'm sure he wishes he could, he has tried repeatedly to destroy the testimony of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me.
Attacks from a hostile media, and people who hate me because of my criminal past will look for ways to turn others away from my story of redemption. And this is to be expected, because “spiritual warfare” is not just a fairy tale; it's real!
It has been the devil's goal from the moment I got “born again” in a prison cell, to take my life. But being unable to kill me, he'll settle for destroying my testimony. Why? Because it is through the sharing of my story about God's mercy, that people from all walks of life have been drawn to Jesus.
Therefore, with the 23rd Psalm in mind, all humanity must journey through the so called, “valley of the shadow of death,” whether we believe it or not. And do you know what? God's Word tells us that those who have placed their trust in Him have nothing to fear.
Why? Because the Lord's “rod,” which is the Word of God, and His “staff,” whom I believe is the Holy Spirit, will work together to comfort and sustain us. They will guide us with truth and in safety. The written Word of God will instruct us, while the Holy Spirit will direct our steps and tell us what to say and do, and where to go.
Thus, for King David, knowing and believing that God was always with him, allowed David to declare with confidence, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.”
For David, there was no reason to fear death, nor the devil, nor any form of “evil.” David knew he had enemies who were out to do him harm. But he knew as well that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was with Him. David was surrounded with goodness and mercy, while leaving his enemies to stew in helpless frustration.
May I, and every follower of the Lord Jesus, be just like King David in faith and trust and hope. For those of us who confess Jesus (Yeshua) as our Savior, the 23rd Psalm is not about being pursued by the “shadow of death,” it's about being surrounded by the love and mercy of a holy God. It's not about living in fear, but about walking in victory, and in the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.
D.B.
However, I thank God that I have a small portable plastic fan which I've got sitting on the floor in front of me. This simple “made in China,” fan is my only amenity other than tap water from my sink that's keeping me from passing out. I'm exaggerating of course. But the heat and humidity have been dreadful.
In any event, for the past several days I have been doing a deep study of the Twenty-third Psalm. Which is no doubt the most often read portion of the holy Bible, other than John 3:16 in the New Testament.
But for now, my focus is on the fourth verse: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” wrote King David. He was a man who was dear to God's heart. And what David said was true. Death follows us wherever we go. Young or old, death trails our footsteps like a dark shadow. No exceptions!
However, what I've noticed is that there are other ways besides physical death, where we could experience great harm and loss. And this is where the devil comes in. While Satan cannot take our lives without God's permission, he will look for other ways to hurt His children.
And I have experienced this myself. How? While the devil has not killed me physically, and I'm sure he wishes he could, he has tried repeatedly to destroy the testimony of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me.
Attacks from a hostile media, and people who hate me because of my criminal past will look for ways to turn others away from my story of redemption. And this is to be expected, because “spiritual warfare” is not just a fairy tale; it's real!
It has been the devil's goal from the moment I got “born again” in a prison cell, to take my life. But being unable to kill me, he'll settle for destroying my testimony. Why? Because it is through the sharing of my story about God's mercy, that people from all walks of life have been drawn to Jesus.
Therefore, with the 23rd Psalm in mind, all humanity must journey through the so called, “valley of the shadow of death,” whether we believe it or not. And do you know what? God's Word tells us that those who have placed their trust in Him have nothing to fear.
Why? Because the Lord's “rod,” which is the Word of God, and His “staff,” whom I believe is the Holy Spirit, will work together to comfort and sustain us. They will guide us with truth and in safety. The written Word of God will instruct us, while the Holy Spirit will direct our steps and tell us what to say and do, and where to go.
Thus, for King David, knowing and believing that God was always with him, allowed David to declare with confidence, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.”
For David, there was no reason to fear death, nor the devil, nor any form of “evil.” David knew he had enemies who were out to do him harm. But he knew as well that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was with Him. David was surrounded with goodness and mercy, while leaving his enemies to stew in helpless frustration.
May I, and every follower of the Lord Jesus, be just like King David in faith and trust and hope. For those of us who confess Jesus (Yeshua) as our Savior, the 23rd Psalm is not about being pursued by the “shadow of death,” it's about being surrounded by the love and mercy of a holy God. It's not about living in fear, but about walking in victory, and in the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.
D.B.