Psalm 23 - Comfort in the Dark Valley

The LORD is your Shepherd; you lack nothing.

Psalm 23:4 inspired the imagery for our theme this year as we've been reminded that God's grace is stronger than we are.

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Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

³ he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk

through the darkest valley [under death's shadow], 

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 your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

forever.

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Canons of Dordt

Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election

Point 2 - Limited Atonement

Point 3 - Total Depravity

Point 4 - Irresistible Grace

Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints

Article 6: God’s Saving Intervention

• For God,

  • who is rich in mercy,

  • according to his unchangeable purpose of election

• does not

  • take his Holy Spirit from his own completely,

  • even when they fall grievously.

• Neither does he let them

  • fall down so far that they forfeit

    • the grace of adoption

    • and the state of justification,

  • or commit the sin which leads to death

    • (the sin against the Holy Spirit),

    • and plunge themselves, entirely forsaken by him, into eternal ruin.

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Summary

Today's Summary section is a repost from April 10, 2024

Psalm 23 is certainly on any top 5 list of recognizable scriptures, maybe even in the top two. This Psalm has brought peace and comfort to scores of people throughout the generations, to both those who know God well and those who barely know His name.

Often times people misunderstand theology to be dry and boring. Psalm 23 proves that quite the opposite is true: while it may be famous for its unsurpassed poetic beauty, Psalm 23 is pure theology, describing the relationship between you and your very personal Shepherd-King.

Notice how David underscores just how personal this relationship is. He doesn't just write that God is our shepherd, although that would certainly be accurate as well, but he writes that the LORD is my shepherd. This is the relationship you must have with Him. For too many people, the LORD is just our God. Make sure that you can say with David that He's my shepherd.

Your shepherd takes a very active role in your life. He makes you lie down, leads you, refreshes your soul, guides you, prepares a table before you, anoints your head with oil, as His goodness and love follows you all the days of your life. Surely you lack nothing.

  Dig Deeper  

Psalm 23 has been popular and endearing for so many generations, even amongst those who otherwise have little use for the Bible. But the reason why may be a bit surprising: it portrays a sovereign God whose care for His sheep never ceases. It's ironic, isn't it, that this attribute of God that gives us so much angst (after all, it was God's sovereignty that Adam rebelled against, and it's felt oppressive ever since) is what we cling to the most when we crave comfort and peace!

It's here in the 23rd Psalm which we love so much that we read of a Divine Shepherd that makes me lie down, who leads, refreshes and guides, and who does all of this for His name's sake. This is the internal battle you fight every day: your flesh (Sarx) wants freedom and autonomy - the opposite of Psalm 23 - yet your soul deeply desires a sovereign Shepherd.

Maybe you're used to reciting those menacingly mysterious words the valley of the shadow of death, and so the newer translations of it seem a bit jarring (the darkest valley). Although the deep canyon is darkened by death's shadow, it's not just a valley you pass through in the final chapters of your life. Rather, it represents your entire journey through life, continually walking under the shadow of your looming death, which comes as the result of our sin (this dark valley serves as the inspiration for the imagery and theme on our home page this year).

But this is the comforting picture of God's sovereign salvation that Psalm 23 and the Canons of Dordt composes. In the midst of the dark valley we've plunged ourselves into, the LORD is with you, comforting you with His rod and staff.

AAA Prayer (About)

• ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing;

• ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for your shepherd to make, lead, guide, and comfort you as you walk through the dark valley under death's shadow;

• ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

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Read the New Testament in a year! Today: John 16