Meditations from Psalm 23

Today I was a little confused as to what day it was, so instead of reading Psalm 24 for my devotional warm up, I opened to the well-known Psalm 23. At times, this passage is easy to skip over since I "know it already." But do I? Today I found myself challenged and comforted afresh by this Psalm. Here are some of the thoughts I wrote down as I was meditating on verse 4. First, to quote it:

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for You are with me...."

It is a given that I will experience situations/circumstances that feel like and appear to be the very worst that could ever happen to me (or one I love). The Psalmist doesn't qualify the statement "though I walk" with but for some of you reading, this is not applicable. The "though" here carries an idea of certainty. (There are also other passages of Scripture that clearly state that the beliver will encounter trials)

This trial, this "valley of the shadow of death," though it may appear to be the worst thing that could ever happen, it is only a shadow. Shadows are very real, but in no way so they have all of the strength and functions of the thing they represent. They are limited. My body may be engulfed in a shadow cast by a storefront, but the total effect on my being is much less severe than if the actual store lay on top of me. In the same way God has put limits on every single trial that we encounter.

Notice that there is a promise, "I walk through." This means that each trial has a definite end and as Christians, we have the assurance that we will see the other side. We will "walk through."

It is critical to recognize the manner in which we are to experience each and every of the “valley one of the shadow of death(s).” It is just two simple words: “without fear.” Contrary to what we might think, fear is a gift from God that prompts us to either do or not do something. There are both righteous as well as sinful categories of fear. The fear spoken of in this passage is clearly referring to the latter. You see, if you fear evil in the way David is speaking of, you are being controlled by it. You are letting it direct your attitudes, emotions, and actions. This sinful fear is like opening the door to the cockpit of our souls to a someone with no flying experience. Actually, it is more like opening it up to a terrorist. Sinful fear is destructive.

How do we begin to “fear no evil?” The answer comes in the next line, “for You are with me.” It is our saving relationship with Jesus Christ that gives us the promise and reality of His presence. The knowledge of His omnipresence (His sovereign presence in the world) and particular presence in the believers’ life quenches the flames of fear. Such confidence and faith in God’s character secures our souls cockpit door behind the only Pilot fit for the job.

These thoughts spoke to me heart this morning. Shamefacedly, I must admit that I am a fearful person. Oh, I may not look it, but I have lived in a sinful pattern of fear. This fear has grown out of the high few I have of myself and the low and frightfully inadequate view I have of God. But praise Him, He is growing me in this area of my life. Right now I don't feel fearful (in the sinful sense) . Nothing seems to be blatantly challenging my trust in God. However, I know that in the future I will walk through a very real valley, one that "threatens" to crush my whole being. Hopefully, by keeping the truth of this Psalm before me, I will walk through the valley with a spirit controlled, not by the natural fear of the evil circumstances, but with the faith that rests in the character of God.

If you don't read anything else read this: We should never view anything (especially trials and life circumstances) outside of the Sovereignty of God. We can have a real peace this morning, because we believe in a real saving God!