Psalm 23: 4-6, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…”
Today’s lesson will conclude the sermon series on Psalm 23 and start from verse 4: “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.” Today’s text tells us an important fact about life. Even though we follow the LORD, our shepherd, one may still walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It is a given in life. Everybody seems to go through “the valley of the shadow of death” at some point in their lives, a dark and fearful experience; the valley is not a mountaintop or broad meadow; it is being hedged in and surrounded, casting a dark, fearful outline across one’s life path, the low in life. It comes in the form of defeat and evil, near death spiritually, physically, or emotionally, through our loved one’s death, and sometimes through financial difficulty and deprivation. Who says that if we follow Jesus, our lives will be a rose-strewn walk? Our lives are full of trouble, heartaches, pain, suffering, shame, and deprivation, even under the shepherd’s leadership, for a purpose sometimes only known to God.
But do we notice that we face only the “shadow of death,” “the valley,” because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place? We only walk through the valley; it is not and cannot be our destination. The valley will be over, and we are still in the bosom of God, even in that “valley” moment in our lives, because our God is deeper, higher, and wider than our own problems and suffering.
That is why even if we go through “the valley of the shadow of death,” we fear no evil because we are still in His love, mercy, and grace. He took the actual substance of death; what we face is only a shadow. Nobody should be afraid of a shadow; a shadow cannot stop a person’s pathway. The shadow of a dog cannot bite, the shadow of a sword cannot kill, and the shadow of death cannot destroy us.
Our shepherd is with us; we are under the care of the LORD with his rod and staff. With them, our Shepherd sometimes guides the sheep through corrections to protect them from potential predators. That is why when He guides us, we should not rebel but obey and follow. If not, we cannot come out of that “valley” safely. Something we Americans should think hard about: we do not want to follow anyone’s leadership; we don’t want to be led; we don’t want to be told what to do. With that attitude, it is difficult to grow spiritually, let alone overcome the difficulties or problems we might be in.
Secondly, our Shepherd provides a table before the enemies in vs. 5. What does it mean? “Table” means “food” or “party.” Can we eat when enemies surround us? Can we eat when we are fearful and anxious? It is natural that when a person is swallowed up by difficult situations and circumstances, surrounded by “enemies” at every corner, no one can eat at peace, literally and figuratively. But because God is our Shepherd, He gives us “peace” enough to “eat” and enjoy the “table” provided by God even when our enemies surround us. When my father passed away right after Thanksgiving thirty-three years ago, as Christmas was approaching near and near, I dreaded having Christmas without my father. I couldn’t think I could face the empty space my father left that year. When Christmas came, my heart was filled with unexplainable calmness, peace, and inner joy. I still remember it as the best Christmas ever to this day. No matter what the circumstances we might be in, experiencing the lowest moment of life, God gives His people peace and tranquility enough to laugh at our enemy, Satan, who wants us to lose our faith and our hearts.
Another aspect of providing a “table” is that God throws the marriage banquet of the Lamb at the end of the world. For those who truly followed the Lord, being His faithful servants on earth, God invites them to participate in that marriage banquet, –to the “table” God provides–. Whereas, for those who only serve the Lord with lips, without putting their faith in action, God says to them, “You, evildoers, get away from me to eternal punishment; I never know you.” “For when I was hungry, you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty, you gave me nothing to drink. When I was a stranger, you did not invite me in. I needed clothes, but you did not clothe me…” Matthew 25:42-43.
Do we take God’s words seriously? We will be judged based on how much we put our professed faith into action. Matthew chapter 25 does not say that those who live in the 21st century will be an exception because too many risks are involved for them to do that. God will not listen to their excuses; only actions count. God will not listen to those who say there were too many “red flags” to help those in need while they were on earth. If we are Christians, we have to be Christians no matter what, wherever and whenever.
Sundar Sing, a saint from India in the early 20th century, made many evangelistic campaigns across the Himalayan mountains. On one of those campaigns, he faced a bitter-cold winter storm. As he walked on, Sundar Singh met a companion in a pass high in the Himalayan Mountains. On their way, they came across a body lying in the snow. Sundar Singh wanted to stop and help the fallen man, but his companion refused, saying, ‘We shall lose our lives if we burden ourselves with him.’
But Sundar Singh, who was already a sickly man himself, could not think of leaving the man to die in the ice and snow. As his companion bid farewell, Sundar Singh lifted the poor traveler onto his back. With great exertion, he carried the man onward, but gradually, the heat from Singh’s body began to warm up the frozen man, and he revived. Soon, both were walking together side by side and catching up with his former companion, whom they found dead—frozen by the cold.
If you were in a similar circumstance, what would you have done? Would you have helped the man at your own risk because it is a Christian thing to do or abandoned him to die because your well-being and safety come first whether you are a Christian or not?
We have to make choices every day. What is the principle by which you make decisions? Do we take our identity as Christians seriously? “Christian” means “follower of Christ.” In other words, when we make decisions, we ought to ask ourselves, what would Christ do in my situation? What is a Christian thing to do? In this light, I am very proud of Gillespie Methodist Church attendees. Many of you have noticed that we have a new church family, Kathy, Greg, and Michael, who need our help in many ways. They attended our service for the first time last Sunday. After the service, Kathy exclaimed, “This is my home church! Everyone was so welcoming, and I loved the service. I feel at home.” During the week, while I was driving, Kathy again said, “Even if we found housing in Litchfield, I will find a way to come to church.” I replied, “Kathy, you do not have to do that. You can find a church nearby where you live and make that church your home church.” She replied, “No, this is my home church! I am going to come to this church.” Without discrimination, everyone welcomes them. That is the church we have to be; as we would welcome Christ, we ought to welcome everyone and do for them as we would do for Christ, no matter who they are and what they have or do not have; we all are children of God.
Lastly, His goodness and mercy will always follow His people. His goodness will follow us, although we do not deserve it; His mercy will follow us; He will not punish us, though we deserve it.
That is why Christ came down and laid His life for us. Let us gladly partake of the “table” he provided for us! Amen!