WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:05.940 Where have you most often heard the 23rd Psalm read publicly? 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:08.759 Funerals, right? 00:00:10.099 --> 00:00:12.540 That's where I have most often heard it. 00:00:13.320 --> 00:00:17.480 That's where I've most often read it publicly myself as a pastor. 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:23.820 I've read the 23rd Psalm at funerals far more than any other passage of Scripture. 00:00:25.300 --> 00:00:27.280 And there's two main reasons. 00:00:27.280 --> 00:00:32.200 I think it's probably the most comforting chapter in all the Bible. 00:00:33.140 --> 00:00:37.200 Plus, it's probably the most well-known chapter in all the Bible. 00:00:38.520 --> 00:00:43.400 I think it can be comforting at a graveside, at a funeral service. 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:50.060 But we all know when the funeral's over and people go back home, the grief process does not end. 00:00:50.299 --> 00:00:53.420 In fact, a lot of times that's when it really gets started in earnest, isn't it? 00:00:53.420 --> 00:01:05.480 Well, I think taking the 23rd Psalm home with you can be a real comfort if you're a Christian 00:01:05.480 --> 00:01:09.859 and your loved one who just died was a Christian. 00:01:11.159 --> 00:01:15.240 Verse 4 is especially comforting during a time of grief, isn't it? 00:01:15.239 --> 00:01:15.780 Look at it. 00:01:16.099 --> 00:01:20.599 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 00:01:23.780 --> 00:01:33.199 Psalm 23 is about as appropriate a passage of Scripture to help people during a time of death and grieving 00:01:33.199 --> 00:01:35.359 as anything you'll find in the Bible. 00:01:36.699 --> 00:01:38.519 That's really not why David wrote it. 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:48.959 When David sat down and penned these words, he was describing how God is our faithful shepherd 00:01:48.959 --> 00:01:57.079 who always guides and protects, takes care of us who are his sheep. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:01.379 And he does it in good times. 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:02.560 He makes the good times better. 00:02:03.640 --> 00:02:05.659 He does it in the hard times. 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:11.039 Sometimes the way he works is just to help us to get through it. 00:02:12.319 --> 00:02:17.280 In all likelihood, as David was writing and he got to this, what we call verse 4, 00:02:19.199 --> 00:02:23.120 the thought of death was not in his mind. 00:02:24.840 --> 00:02:29.479 Chuck Swindoll points out that the phrase, the valley of the shadow of death, 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:34.139 is more literally translated, the valley of deep darkness. 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:39.439 Several translations call it the darkest valley. 00:02:39.659 --> 00:02:41.639 The New International Version is a good example. 00:02:41.779 --> 00:02:42.299 Look at it. 00:02:42.599 --> 00:02:48.679 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 00:02:49.979 --> 00:02:58.039 David is describing how God protects us as we go through any kind of dark valley experience in our lives. 00:02:58.039 --> 00:03:04.579 Now certainly, a lot of times death is one of those dark valleys. 00:03:06.199 --> 00:03:13.319 And when you go through that difficult time when a close family member or friend dies, 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:16.500 look to the Lord for comfort. 00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:29.159 To give you what you need for that day, for the next week, to just be able to move on. 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:35.180 Sometimes the death of a loved one, it changes us. 00:03:36.060 --> 00:03:42.939 We never go back to life the way it was, but we must go on to the way life now is. 00:03:42.939 --> 00:03:52.300 So the Lord can help us, comfort us in a time of death, using this psalm and the promises here. 00:03:53.319 --> 00:03:56.159 But I think the Lord also uses it as we face death. 00:03:57.500 --> 00:04:06.099 Most people have at least a clue that death is somewhat close. 00:04:06.099 --> 00:04:11.780 By that, what I mean is, most people don't die unexpectedly. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:24.740 Most people, they either have some kind of, you know, illness that's leading toward death, 00:04:25.240 --> 00:04:30.620 or they're getting to the age where their health is just declining in general, 00:04:30.699 --> 00:04:33.360 and they know you don't live forever. 00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:49.199 As we anticipate death, we need to just accept it, talk about it, prepare for it as best we can as Christians. 00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:55.759 As Christians, death is not something to get excited about, be giddy about. 00:04:55.840 --> 00:04:56.780 I'm not talking about that. 00:04:56.779 --> 00:05:08.659 But death as Christians, it should not be something that we are afraid of, refuse to talk about, and seriously prepare for. 00:05:09.699 --> 00:05:15.419 If we're Christians, we know that the Lord Jesus has died, been buried, but arose. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:17.919 He's the first. 00:05:18.759 --> 00:05:20.959 He's our example in that sense. 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:27.479 He, in John 14, talks about going to prepare a place for us. 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:30.959 So as Christians, death's coming. 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:33.579 We need to think about it. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:35.639 We need to pray about it. 00:05:36.500 --> 00:05:40.099 We need to talk to our family members about it and let them know that we are ready. 00:05:40.339 --> 00:05:44.699 We're prepared if we are, or get prepared if we're not. 00:05:44.699 --> 00:05:54.659 But most dark valley experiences that we experience, we go through, has nothing to do with death. 00:05:55.939 --> 00:06:06.079 Right now, in this room, among us, some of us are going through a dark valley experience, such as a health issue. 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:12.339 Yours, or maybe someone who you love, you're close to. 00:06:13.180 --> 00:06:18.279 Some dark valley experiences are very private and personal, and we don't talk about. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:26.099 Some people battle through times of darkness in their life all alone, and that's not really healthy. 00:06:26.100 --> 00:06:39.720 Sometimes, the best way is to at least share it with some people that we're close to, we know, love us, care about us, will support us, pray for us, something like that. 00:06:41.460 --> 00:06:47.300 Some of the dark valley experiences that we go through, some of you may be going through right now. 00:06:48.080 --> 00:06:49.939 It's a relational valley. 00:06:51.480 --> 00:06:53.960 It's not a good time for you right now. 00:06:53.959 --> 00:07:01.120 And then there's probably people in this room who are going through what you would call a spiritually dark valley. 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:04.359 You're not close to God. 00:07:04.479 --> 00:07:05.819 He seems very distant. 00:07:07.240 --> 00:07:09.519 Or you're just very distracted. 00:07:10.919 --> 00:07:19.019 You're having a hard time to really focus on talking to Him in prayer, listening to His Word. 00:07:19.019 --> 00:07:25.899 There may be some people in this room, the truth is, your relationship with God is non-existent. 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:28.799 And it's bothering you. 00:07:30.719 --> 00:07:35.319 Everyone goes through dark valley experiences at times. 00:07:36.259 --> 00:07:39.459 And what I want us to do today is zero in on verse 4. 00:07:39.459 --> 00:07:47.699 And see how we can count on God to lead us and protect us all the way through the dark valley. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:50.180 Let's go ahead and read Psalm 23. 00:07:50.899 --> 00:07:52.259 Let's start from the beginning. 00:07:52.939 --> 00:07:55.560 And we're going to focus on verse 4. 00:07:56.519 --> 00:07:58.659 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 00:07:59.039 --> 00:08:01.139 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 00:08:01.360 --> 00:08:03.639 He leads me beside still waters. 00:08:04.120 --> 00:08:05.480 He restores my soul. 00:08:05.899 --> 00:08:09.500 He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 00:08:09.500 --> 00:08:14.399 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:16.779 For you are with me. 00:08:17.339 --> 00:08:20.899 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 00:08:22.740 --> 00:08:25.759 The first thing I want us to notice, the first part of verse 4. 00:08:26.180 --> 00:08:31.100 The Lord protects us as we go through dark valleys by His presence. 00:08:31.839 --> 00:08:33.620 By His being with us. 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:34.159 Look at it. 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.379 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:39.860 For you are with me. 00:08:39.939 --> 00:08:45.620 That is probably the main point of verse 4. 00:08:46.719 --> 00:08:47.719 Let's think about this. 00:08:48.279 --> 00:08:51.000 The Lord sometimes leads us into the dark valleys. 00:08:51.439 --> 00:08:52.740 We don't stumble into them. 00:08:53.740 --> 00:08:55.500 We don't run to them on our own. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:59.639 The Lord sometimes actually leads us into the dark valleys. 00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:05.600 Commentators describe how shepherds had to routinely move sheep from one place to another. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:06.620 And it makes sense. 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:12.559 You can't, especially with sheep, you can ruin a field, ruin a pasture. 00:09:13.059 --> 00:09:14.240 Eat it too close to the ground. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:23.319 And so shepherds in David's day, sometimes they would have to move sheep through valleys, 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:31.660 surrounded by mountains, that limited or basically eliminated a lot of light. 00:09:32.660 --> 00:09:40.220 And made it a literal dark valley that they traveled through to get from one pasture to another. 00:09:41.660 --> 00:09:47.560 Last week we looked at how the Lord leads us in paths of righteousness or right paths. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.580 In verse 3. 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:55.940 What I want us today is to think about sometimes as the Lord leads us through the right paths, 00:09:56.400 --> 00:09:58.600 it goes through a dark valley. 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:00.480 Look at the two verses together. 00:10:01.020 --> 00:10:03.960 He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 00:10:04.960 --> 00:10:06.259 And then the very next verse. 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:10.500 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me. 00:10:10.680 --> 00:10:11.420 You're the shepherd. 00:10:12.100 --> 00:10:12.900 You're with me. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:14.259 You are leading me. 00:10:14.259 --> 00:10:21.840 And we know that God works in the life of all of us who are His children to make us more like Jesus. 00:10:22.539 --> 00:10:28.679 God works in us to cause us to develop Christ-like character in all that we do. 00:10:29.860 --> 00:10:35.960 Well, God knows what we need, when we need it, for that to happen. 00:10:35.960 --> 00:10:46.759 For an example, sometimes we need a place of rest, a place of, a time of peace. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:53.980 And so verse 2, talking about the green pastures, the quiet waters, God provides that. 00:10:54.500 --> 00:10:55.580 That's what David's talking about. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:02.200 Sometimes we need to be restored because we've sinned or we're just all stressed out. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:04.700 Verse 3, He restores our soul. 00:11:04.700 --> 00:11:08.700 But there are times when we need to go through the dark valley. 00:11:09.580 --> 00:11:11.680 And James Boas explains why. 00:11:11.820 --> 00:11:12.420 Look at this. 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:18.020 It is in the valleys with their trials and dangers that we develop character. 00:11:19.000 --> 00:11:21.520 When do you grow the most spiritually? 00:11:22.040 --> 00:11:23.379 When do you draw closer to God? 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:24.580 When all is great? 00:11:25.140 --> 00:11:27.320 When you're just relaxing in the green pastures? 00:11:27.480 --> 00:11:30.000 Or when life is difficult? 00:11:30.820 --> 00:11:31.980 You're in a dark valley. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:41.560 Sometimes God has to put us on our back in the dark places to cause us to look up and seek Him, doesn't He? 00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.840 Remember what we saw last week? 00:11:45.840 --> 00:11:47.440 Why God does everything He does? 00:11:49.019 --> 00:11:51.420 For His name's sake and what that means. 00:11:51.419 --> 00:11:55.299 God always works for His glory and our good. 00:11:55.439 --> 00:11:55.819 Both. 00:11:57.500 --> 00:12:02.339 And that includes when He leads us through the dark valley. 00:12:03.059 --> 00:12:07.339 If you're in a dark valley right now, understand. 00:12:08.379 --> 00:12:10.179 God is at work for His glory. 00:12:10.179 --> 00:12:17.199 But even in a terrible situation, God is also at work for your good. 00:12:18.339 --> 00:12:23.519 That does not mean that the situation's good, but that God is working for good. 00:12:24.279 --> 00:12:26.979 The Lord leads us into the valleys, but He never leaves us there. 00:12:27.039 --> 00:12:27.579 Look at this. 00:12:27.859 --> 00:12:29.879 The Lord leads us through dark valleys. 00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:31.599 That's literally what the verse says. 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:35.399 Even though I'll walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:40.840 The Lord always leads us through a dark valley to a better place. 00:12:43.419 --> 00:12:54.939 The Lord leads us through a dark valley, just like the shepherd led the sheep through narrow passes, dark valleys where there were predators, wolves that could easily get them, more easily get them. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:58.879 To get them to a better place, a better pasture, a new pasture. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:02.000 Think about this. 00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:07.919 Your dark valley, whatever it might be, it's not final. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.580 It's not your final destination. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:14.379 It's not where you're going to be forever. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:19.200 Now sometimes we stay in the dark valley longer than we want to. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:26.020 You may be going through a time of you're just really down, discouraged, depressed. 00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:30.180 It's been going on for a while and you're tired of it. 00:13:31.400 --> 00:13:33.440 It's lasting longer than you want it to. 00:13:33.620 --> 00:13:38.020 Or there's a relationship in your life that's just strained, maybe even ripped apart. 00:13:39.640 --> 00:13:43.540 And you're thinking to yourself, is it ever going to get better? 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:50.339 Sometimes our lives are changed when we go through the dark valley. 00:13:52.240 --> 00:13:59.259 Sometimes we go through a dark valley and it is such a traumatic experience that we are never the same. 00:14:00.259 --> 00:14:03.399 We come out of it, but we're different. 00:14:04.319 --> 00:14:05.599 We think differently. 00:14:06.459 --> 00:14:10.039 We just look at life differently. 00:14:10.039 --> 00:14:15.599 Sooner or later, God will lead us through the valley and to a better place. 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:25.059 It may be that the Lord will deliver you through, out of your valley soon. 00:14:27.319 --> 00:14:28.599 Pray that He will. 00:14:30.159 --> 00:14:34.039 Maybe He'll heal you or your family member. 00:14:35.319 --> 00:14:39.099 Maybe He'll bring healing to that relationship. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:47.659 Maybe the dark cloud that you're living in emotionally, He'll lift it. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:51.299 You'll see the blue sky soon. 00:14:53.000 --> 00:14:54.659 I don't know and you don't know. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:15:00.199 All we can do is be faithful and follow the Lord as He leads us through the dark valley. 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:02.919 Here's something we have to accept. 00:15:02.919 --> 00:15:11.679 It may be that the Lord, the only way He's going to get you through that dark valley, deliver you from it, is to take you to heaven. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:17.199 That is a painful reality. 00:15:19.719 --> 00:15:21.899 Life does not always turn out like we want to. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:27.839 Blue skies sometimes just don't appear for some people. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:41.399 I believe the Lord led both my parents and Lisa's mother through the dark valley of dementia into heaven 00:15:41.399 --> 00:15:50.160 where He restored their minds to a higher level of knowing and experiencing life than they had ever known. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:53.839 I really believe that. 00:15:55.839 --> 00:16:02.819 And those of you who are experiencing that or have a family member, dementia, Alzheimer's, 00:16:03.100 --> 00:16:08.759 it's one of the darkest, hellish valleys anybody can go through on earth. 00:16:08.759 --> 00:16:14.240 And the only way through and out of that valley is death. 00:16:15.319 --> 00:16:18.279 And in those kind of situations, death is a blessing. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:19.879 Death is an enemy. 00:16:20.179 --> 00:16:22.840 It's never been, wasn't a part of God's original plan. 00:16:22.939 --> 00:16:28.980 But death sometimes, for a Christian, becomes our friend. 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:32.539 It's the way out of the valley. 00:16:33.679 --> 00:16:37.580 It's the way that the Lord Himself delivers us. 00:16:37.580 --> 00:16:40.820 And we need to understand that and accept that. 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:44.080 The Lord leads us through our dark valleys. 00:16:44.180 --> 00:16:50.840 But best of all, the Lord stays close to us throughout the time we are in the dark valley. 00:16:51.700 --> 00:16:54.840 Note the reason why David's not afraid as he goes through the dark valley. 00:16:55.280 --> 00:16:59.680 He says, I will fear no evil for you are with me. 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:02.000 He says, I will fear no evil for you are with me. 00:17:02.000 --> 00:17:03.699 He says, I will fear no evil for you are with me. 00:17:03.699 --> 00:17:04.679 He says, I will fear no evil for you. 00:17:04.679 --> 00:17:05.579 He says, I will fear no evil for you. 00:17:05.579 --> 00:17:06.179 He says, I will fear no evil for you. 00:17:06.179 --> 00:17:07.099 He says, I will fear no evil for you. 00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:08.359 Being close to him. 00:17:10.919 --> 00:17:12.319 Think about it. 00:17:12.919 --> 00:17:15.200 David felt the Lord's closeness so powerfully. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:19.500 As he went through this dark valley, or he describes going through a dark valley, 00:17:20.179 --> 00:17:24.659 that he starts talking to God in verse 4. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:28.899 Whereas up to this point, he's just been talking about God. 00:17:28.900 --> 00:17:35.200 In the first three verses of Psalm 23, David talks about his relationship with God. 00:17:35.880 --> 00:17:37.000 The Lord is my shepherd. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.660 He makes me lie down. 00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.759 He leads me. 00:17:39.920 --> 00:17:40.740 He restores me. 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:45.580 But when you get to verses 4 and 5, he's talking to God. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.160 Look at this. 00:17:46.620 --> 00:17:47.660 You are with me. 00:17:48.840 --> 00:17:49.380 No, he. 00:17:49.820 --> 00:17:50.700 You are with me. 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:52.600 Your rod and staff, they comfort me. 00:17:52.880 --> 00:17:55.640 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:57.600 You anoint my head with oil. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:14.179 In this week's newsletter, I pointed this out and quoted John Piper's explanation of why David and we do things like start talking to God. 00:18:14.399 --> 00:18:15.319 Look at what Piper says. 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:25.059 I think the switch to the more intimate you, precisely when he enters the valley of the shadow of death, is a universal experience among God's people. 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:28.480 The crises of life draw us closer to God. 00:18:28.779 --> 00:18:32.500 We are more prone to talk about God when we're in green pastures. 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:38.779 And more prone to cry out to God when we enter some fearful ravine. 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:46.700 If you're going through a dark valley right now, rest assured that the Lord is leading you. 00:18:48.579 --> 00:18:49.519 Look to him. 00:18:49.740 --> 00:18:51.839 Trust him to lead you through it. 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:58.680 But I want to encourage you to draw close to him right now by talking to him. 00:19:00.139 --> 00:19:00.539 Pray. 00:19:00.539 --> 00:19:05.359 Ask him for whatever it is you need right now. 00:19:05.859 --> 00:19:09.139 If it's patience, ask him for it. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:12.159 If it's faith to trust him, ask him for it. 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:19.099 If it's some kind of physical or emotional strength you just need for this time, for this day, ask him for it. 00:19:19.099 --> 00:19:33.359 We don't ever want to get to the place where we have not, as James says, we looked at last week, we have not simply because we just don't ask. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.579 Ask God. 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:40.839 Jesus assures us that he's always with us. 00:19:40.919 --> 00:19:41.539 And think about this. 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:43.719 Jesus is God in the flesh. 00:19:45.119 --> 00:19:46.939 Jesus was asked, show us the Father. 00:19:46.939 --> 00:19:48.939 Jesus said, if you've seen me, you've seen the Father. 00:19:49.099 --> 00:19:53.179 Well, Jesus promises. 00:19:54.079 --> 00:19:56.799 One of the last things he said to his disciples before he descended back into heaven. 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:01.939 I am with you always to the end of the age. 00:20:03.159 --> 00:20:05.219 No matter what, I am with you. 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:07.480 And he is with us through his Holy Spirit. 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:13.500 Paul found that the Lord is not only with us, but supplies what we need when we need it. 00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:15.779 We've looked at this in some of the previous studies. 00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:17.019 Philippians 4.19. 00:20:17.019 --> 00:20:24.799 He wrote this just after he'd been talking about he had learned to be content when he had plenty and when he was in need. 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:32.139 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 00:20:33.940 --> 00:20:38.019 It does not say that God will supply everything that we want. 00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:43.319 And it does not mean that he will supply everything that we think we need. 00:20:43.319 --> 00:20:46.119 We've been talking about this throughout this series. 00:20:46.599 --> 00:20:48.220 God determines what we need. 00:20:48.799 --> 00:20:53.359 And he always supplies what he determines that we need. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:55.599 That was Paul's experience. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:21:06.240 If you're going through a dark valley right now, when I'm going through a dark valley, I ask God for what I want. 00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:10.779 I ask God for what I think I need. 00:21:12.779 --> 00:21:14.879 Sometimes God gives us what we want. 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:20.340 Sometimes he supplies what we think we need because what we think we need, we do need. 00:21:21.900 --> 00:21:29.440 But I don't ever want to not get something because I didn't trust God and ask him to give it. 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:31.700 James is very clear. 00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.400 Chapter 4. 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:34.520 You have not because you ask not. 00:21:34.660 --> 00:21:36.900 Or you ask and have wrong motives. 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:42.880 Don't hesitate to cry out to God. 00:21:43.280 --> 00:21:47.200 Talk to him personally as you go through the dark valley. 00:21:48.040 --> 00:21:50.820 Just like David gives us the example here. 00:21:53.660 --> 00:22:00.019 You know, when I like to talk to people, I like to talk about theology. 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:02.200 I like to discuss biblical things. 00:22:02.420 --> 00:22:04.440 I like to talk about the sovereignty of God. 00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:07.840 About God being all powerful and things like that. 00:22:08.559 --> 00:22:11.580 But when I go through a dark valley, I don't think about God's sovereignty. 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:12.600 I say, Lord, help me. 00:22:14.820 --> 00:22:18.180 I truly believe he is in control. 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:21.160 But I don't just think about he's in control. 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:23.559 Lord, help me. 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.820 Give me patience. 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.039 Give me wisdom. 00:22:27.480 --> 00:22:28.820 Help me keep my mouth closed. 00:22:29.080 --> 00:22:30.460 Help me just know what to say. 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:32.779 Help me. 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:37.740 Lord, you please make it personal. 00:22:38.859 --> 00:22:42.299 The Lord protects us as we go through dark valleys by his presence. 00:22:43.700 --> 00:22:44.899 He leads us. 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.619 He stays close by us. 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:48.700 But David goes on to give us more comfort. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:52.480 The Lord protects us as we go through dark valleys by his power. 00:22:52.859 --> 00:22:55.359 Here he talks about your rod and your staff. 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.160 They comfort me. 00:22:56.700 --> 00:22:58.839 The Lord exercises his power. 00:22:58.839 --> 00:23:04.159 A lot of times in tangible ways to protect us. 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:07.500 I want us to look at, break this down like this. 00:23:07.919 --> 00:23:09.220 You can do it different ways. 00:23:09.299 --> 00:23:10.139 Here's the way I want to do it. 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:13.339 The Lord protects us from our enemies. 00:23:14.939 --> 00:23:17.899 That was the purpose of the shepherd's rod. 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:22.900 And I think Chuck Swindoll explains this very, very well. 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:26.000 So I want to use his explanation of the rod and staff. 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.560 Look at this. 00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:27.759 He says, 00:23:27.759 --> 00:23:29.879 The shepherd's rod was a symbol of his power. 00:23:29.879 --> 00:23:34.140 Actually, it was an oak club about two feet in length. 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:37.319 It was used to defend the flock against wild beasts. 00:23:37.879 --> 00:23:42.900 The head of this rod was round, usually whittled from the knot of a tree, 00:23:43.220 --> 00:23:46.940 in which the shepherd had pounded sharp bits of metal. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:54.320 This heavy club could easily kill a lion or bear, threatening the safety of the sheep. 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:58.240 Now, you think, I don't know about that. 00:23:59.080 --> 00:23:59.860 David did it. 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:05.900 We're going to look at a passage of Scripture where David explained how he took care of his father's sheep. 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.620 He was a shepherd. 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:08.980 He killed a lion and a bear. 00:24:09.279 --> 00:24:14.240 What he was doing, he was trying to prove to King Saul, I can fight Goliath. 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:25.559 I can defeat Goliath because by the grace of God, I have killed bears or at least a bear and lion. 00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:28.579 This is in 1 Samuel 17. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.299 In verse 34, 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.559 But David said to Saul, 00:24:36.279 --> 00:24:38.640 Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:43.079 When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:48.059 I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. 00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:54.539 When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it, and killed it. 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:58.199 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear. 00:24:58.819 --> 00:25:06.019 This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has defied the armies of the living God. 00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:14.359 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. 00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:19.819 David, maybe it was something miraculous. 00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:22.519 Maybe it was more common in that day. 00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:30.980 But David was of such a physical stature, ability, 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:37.160 that he could take that rod with metal bits in the end of it, 00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:46.440 and he could kill a lion or a bear that was trying to take sheep from his flock. 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:57.620 The Bible describes the use of weapons as legitimate tools for protection against enemies. 00:25:58.840 --> 00:26:02.779 You know, if today's liberals had been active in David's day, 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.700 they'd have protested him using that rod. 00:26:07.880 --> 00:26:13.200 They'd have said that the bear and the lion, they need that sheep. 00:26:13.200 --> 00:26:17.440 You're wrong to kill that lion and that bear. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.500 Wouldn't they? 00:26:19.580 --> 00:26:20.539 They do that today. 00:26:22.940 --> 00:26:24.680 I want you to see in this, 00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:31.340 the Bible describes the use of weapons 00:26:31.340 --> 00:26:35.080 as legitimate tools 00:26:35.080 --> 00:26:39.720 for protecting yourself and your stuff 00:26:39.720 --> 00:26:42.100 against enemies 00:26:42.100 --> 00:26:44.440 that try to hurt you 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:46.259 and take your stuff. 00:26:48.579 --> 00:26:50.120 We need to be real careful. 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:53.460 A weapon that's powerful enough 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:55.120 to kill a lion or a bear 00:26:55.120 --> 00:26:57.160 or a person 00:26:57.160 --> 00:26:59.700 must always be treated 00:26:59.700 --> 00:27:01.819 very, very carefully 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.380 and cautiously. 00:27:03.600 --> 00:27:04.279 That's a given. 00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:07.620 But weapons 00:27:07.619 --> 00:27:10.079 can be a source 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:11.359 of both protection 00:27:11.359 --> 00:27:13.679 and comfort. 00:27:14.679 --> 00:27:15.599 They are in the Bible. 00:27:17.079 --> 00:27:17.859 Even Peter 00:27:17.859 --> 00:27:19.559 and a few of the other disciples 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.979 carried swords 00:27:20.979 --> 00:27:23.639 throughout the three-year ministry of Jesus. 00:27:24.199 --> 00:27:26.739 Jesus never made them lay them down. 00:27:28.579 --> 00:27:29.819 They were armed. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:33.179 They were armed for protection. 00:27:33.180 --> 00:27:35.880 Peter, he used his sword 00:27:35.880 --> 00:27:36.980 in a way he shouldn't have. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.779 When Jesus was arrested, 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:40.840 he cut off someone's ear 00:27:40.840 --> 00:27:41.640 who was trying to, 00:27:41.840 --> 00:27:44.259 who was there in the mob. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.360 Jesus told him, 00:27:46.440 --> 00:27:46.960 put it away. 00:27:47.060 --> 00:27:48.100 It's not time or place. 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.299 But he had it. 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:55.500 It was something that he was allowed 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:56.500 by the Lord himself 00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:58.000 to carry. 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:00.920 The Lord protects us from our enemies. 00:28:00.920 --> 00:28:01.680 But that's not all. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.420 The Lord protects us from ourselves. 00:28:04.300 --> 00:28:04.860 One of the purposes 00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:06.180 of the shepherd's staff 00:28:06.180 --> 00:28:06.920 was to protect 00:28:06.920 --> 00:28:07.920 and rescue sheep. 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.300 Swindoll points this out. 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.460 The shepherd's staff 00:28:11.460 --> 00:28:12.360 was his crook 00:28:12.360 --> 00:28:13.340 which was bent 00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:14.560 or hooked at one end. 00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:15.660 It provided the shepherd 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:16.380 with an instrument 00:28:16.380 --> 00:28:18.000 for prying a sheep loose 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:18.700 from a thicket, 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.920 pushing branches aside 00:28:20.560 --> 00:28:21.880 along the narrow path 00:28:21.880 --> 00:28:23.800 and pulling wandering sheep 00:28:23.800 --> 00:28:24.759 out of holes 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:26.019 into which they had fallen. 00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.500 Like the rod, 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.279 the staff 00:28:28.279 --> 00:28:29.000 was a symbol 00:28:29.000 --> 00:28:30.400 of the shepherd's power 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.099 and strength. 00:28:31.420 --> 00:28:32.400 Sometimes we're our own 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:32.900 worst enemies, 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.299 aren't we? 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:36.819 That's why we need the Lord 00:28:36.819 --> 00:28:38.619 to rescue us sometimes. 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:41.079 We need the Lord 00:28:41.079 --> 00:28:41.819 to rescue us 00:28:41.819 --> 00:28:42.920 when we wander away 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:43.700 or rebel. 00:28:45.380 --> 00:28:46.140 We need the Lord 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:47.200 to rescue us 00:28:47.200 --> 00:28:47.900 when we get stuck 00:28:47.900 --> 00:28:48.599 in situations 00:28:48.599 --> 00:28:50.420 we can't get out of 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:50.940 on our own. 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:53.140 But I want you to note 00:28:53.140 --> 00:28:55.240 the way David describes 00:28:55.240 --> 00:28:55.880 the effect 00:28:55.880 --> 00:28:56.880 of the Lord's power 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:57.880 on us. 00:28:57.880 --> 00:28:59.060 the Lord exercises 00:28:59.060 --> 00:28:59.660 his power 00:28:59.660 --> 00:29:01.600 to comfort us. 00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:04.020 Your rod and your staff, 00:29:04.320 --> 00:29:06.120 they comfort us. 00:29:08.360 --> 00:29:09.560 No one is exempt 00:29:09.560 --> 00:29:10.680 from going through 00:29:10.680 --> 00:29:11.560 dark valleys 00:29:11.560 --> 00:29:12.840 that are scary. 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.620 That can make us 00:29:16.620 --> 00:29:19.000 just be all stressed out. 00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:22.640 No one gets exempt 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:23.340 from going through 00:29:23.340 --> 00:29:24.040 dark valleys 00:29:24.040 --> 00:29:26.160 that are truly dangerous. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:29.340 but as God's people 00:29:29.340 --> 00:29:32.519 we must trust him 00:29:32.519 --> 00:29:34.380 that he goes with us 00:29:34.380 --> 00:29:35.440 through that dark valley. 00:29:37.540 --> 00:29:39.040 We can count on him 00:29:39.040 --> 00:29:39.800 to never leave us 00:29:39.800 --> 00:29:40.720 nor forsake us. 00:29:42.080 --> 00:29:43.920 The Lord will protect us 00:29:43.920 --> 00:29:45.740 and the Lord 00:29:45.740 --> 00:29:47.019 will comfort us. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.759 Alexander McLaren 00:29:49.759 --> 00:29:50.500 was a well-known 00:29:50.500 --> 00:29:51.759 pastor and writer 00:29:51.759 --> 00:29:54.140 in the late 1800s 00:29:54.140 --> 00:29:55.980 and early 1900s 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.799 in England. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:29:59.180 Well respected. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:00.779 Well, 00:30:01.579 --> 00:30:02.400 he tells a story 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:02.720 about 00:30:02.720 --> 00:30:03.879 when he took 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:05.400 his first job 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:06.579 at the age 00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:07.359 of 16. 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.119 The job 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:09.539 was in 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:10.079 Glasgow, 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.039 Scotland, 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:12.400 the city 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.680 which was 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.460 six miles 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:15.400 from his home 00:30:15.400 --> 00:30:16.480 out in the country. 00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.400 Taking this job 00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:20.259 required him 00:30:20.259 --> 00:30:21.299 to go to Glasgow 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:22.259 and live 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:23.059 with the family 00:30:23.059 --> 00:30:24.119 that was going 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.180 to employ him 00:30:25.180 --> 00:30:26.640 during the week. 00:30:27.859 --> 00:30:28.779 On the first 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:30.079 Monday of his job 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:31.839 he says his father 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.759 walked with him 00:30:32.759 --> 00:30:33.359 to work. 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:34.859 When they arrived 00:30:34.859 --> 00:30:36.119 the father said, 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:36.619 Alec, 00:30:36.940 --> 00:30:38.759 I want you to come home 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.279 Saturday night 00:30:40.279 --> 00:30:41.700 as soon as you get 00:30:41.700 --> 00:30:42.319 off work. 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:44.519 Well, 00:30:46.819 --> 00:30:47.399 McLaren 00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:48.679 says that 00:30:48.679 --> 00:30:50.079 he was immediately 00:30:50.079 --> 00:30:51.579 struck with fear 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:51.960 when he heard 00:30:51.960 --> 00:30:52.879 his dad say that 00:30:52.879 --> 00:30:54.339 because there was 00:30:54.339 --> 00:30:55.919 a deep ravine 00:30:55.919 --> 00:30:56.319 between 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.759 the city 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.159 and his home 00:30:59.159 --> 00:30:59.899 out in the country. 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.539 And all his life 00:31:01.539 --> 00:31:02.759 he had heard stories 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:03.700 about how it was 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:04.099 haunted 00:31:04.099 --> 00:31:05.759 and that many people 00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:06.460 who had gone 00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:07.399 through it at night 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:08.539 were never seen 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:09.679 again. 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:11.560 He said, 00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:12.380 I was afraid 00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.940 to go through it 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:13.500 anytime. 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.600 I could not imagine 00:31:15.600 --> 00:31:17.680 walking through it 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:19.340 alone at night. 00:31:19.840 --> 00:31:20.620 So he said 00:31:20.620 --> 00:31:21.259 to his father, 00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:22.700 you know, 00:31:22.759 --> 00:31:23.120 I'm going to be 00:31:23.120 --> 00:31:23.920 working all week. 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:24.460 I'm going to be 00:31:24.460 --> 00:31:25.080 worn out 00:31:25.080 --> 00:31:25.759 when Saturday night 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.080 comes. 00:31:26.580 --> 00:31:27.120 I'm just going to 00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:28.240 stay on Saturday 00:31:28.240 --> 00:31:29.299 night and I'll be 00:31:29.299 --> 00:31:30.140 there at home 00:31:30.140 --> 00:31:31.160 first thing Sunday 00:31:31.160 --> 00:31:31.500 morning. 00:31:31.660 --> 00:31:32.500 But his father 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.019 insisted, 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:33.320 said, 00:31:33.400 --> 00:31:33.740 son, 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.120 you've never been 00:31:35.120 --> 00:31:35.640 away from home 00:31:35.640 --> 00:31:35.960 before. 00:31:35.960 --> 00:31:39.100 These five days 00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:39.920 between now 00:31:39.920 --> 00:31:40.600 and Saturday 00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.240 are going to seem 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:42.400 like a year to me. 00:31:43.160 --> 00:31:44.039 I really want you 00:31:44.039 --> 00:31:44.740 to come on home 00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:45.360 Saturday night 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:45.819 because I'm going 00:31:45.819 --> 00:31:47.220 to miss you. 00:31:49.360 --> 00:31:50.140 And McLaren said 00:31:50.140 --> 00:31:50.840 when he heard his dad 00:31:50.840 --> 00:31:51.660 say it that way, 00:31:52.660 --> 00:31:53.720 he just said, 00:31:53.799 --> 00:31:53.960 okay, 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:54.700 I'll be home. 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.980 He said all week 00:31:56.980 --> 00:31:58.140 as he worked that week, 00:31:58.759 --> 00:32:00.319 he was worried. 00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:02.240 All he could think 00:32:02.240 --> 00:32:02.980 about when Saturday 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.559 night comes, 00:32:03.620 --> 00:32:04.519 I've got to walk 00:32:04.519 --> 00:32:06.379 home alone 00:32:06.379 --> 00:32:08.299 through that dark 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.180 ravine. 00:32:10.279 --> 00:32:10.500 Well, 00:32:10.519 --> 00:32:11.319 Saturday night came 00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:14.099 and he took off. 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.720 He started out 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.180 for home. 00:32:16.680 --> 00:32:17.440 But when he got 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.359 to that ravine, 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.440 he stopped. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.079 And he just looked 00:32:22.079 --> 00:32:24.879 and the road 00:32:24.879 --> 00:32:25.779 went down, 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:28.440 black pitch, 00:32:28.619 --> 00:32:29.059 dark. 00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:31.680 And he said, 00:32:32.039 --> 00:32:33.779 I just froze. 00:32:34.519 --> 00:32:36.519 I could not 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.940 make myself 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:39.879 go into that ravine. 00:32:40.559 --> 00:32:41.220 And then his worst 00:32:41.220 --> 00:32:42.319 fear happened. 00:32:42.940 --> 00:32:44.339 He heard a sound 00:32:44.339 --> 00:32:46.259 coming from the darkness. 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.339 And as he turned 00:32:47.339 --> 00:32:47.940 to run, 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:49.319 all of a sudden, 00:32:49.720 --> 00:32:50.400 he heard 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:52.079 a familiar voice. 00:32:52.279 --> 00:32:52.839 Alec. 00:32:54.019 --> 00:32:55.359 It was his dad. 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:58.740 His dad had come 00:32:58.740 --> 00:33:00.379 to meet him 00:33:00.379 --> 00:33:02.539 and bring him home, 00:33:02.900 --> 00:33:03.579 walk with him home. 00:33:03.579 --> 00:33:05.039 McLaren said, 00:33:05.299 --> 00:33:06.439 when we walked 00:33:06.439 --> 00:33:07.419 together through 00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:09.139 that dark ravine, 00:33:09.799 --> 00:33:10.899 I wasn't afraid 00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.639 of anything 00:33:11.639 --> 00:33:12.720 that walked, 00:33:13.679 --> 00:33:14.740 all because my 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:16.899 father was with me. 00:33:18.259 --> 00:33:19.619 When we go through 00:33:19.619 --> 00:33:21.159 life's dark experiences, 00:33:22.159 --> 00:33:23.659 we need to learn 00:33:23.659 --> 00:33:25.399 to look to our 00:33:25.399 --> 00:33:26.359 heavenly father 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:28.220 for that kind 00:33:28.220 --> 00:33:28.779 of comfort. 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:28.899 comfort. 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:30.700 And we need 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.240 to understand 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:32.319 that our greatest 00:33:32.319 --> 00:33:33.519 source of comfort 00:33:33.519 --> 00:33:35.279 is not a weapon, 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.920 but it's a person, 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:40.420 our heavenly father. 00:33:42.059 --> 00:33:42.940 But I want to 00:33:42.940 --> 00:33:43.420 encourage you, 00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.099 don't wait until 00:33:44.099 --> 00:33:44.599 you're in the middle 00:33:44.599 --> 00:33:46.460 of a dark valley 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:48.420 to draw close 00:33:48.420 --> 00:33:48.839 to him. 00:33:49.960 --> 00:33:51.200 Come to him now 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:51.980 if you're not 00:33:51.980 --> 00:33:52.839 already close. 00:33:52.839 --> 00:33:54.539 I mean, 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:55.439 if you are away 00:33:55.439 --> 00:33:56.019 from God, 00:33:56.179 --> 00:33:57.019 spiritually speaking, 00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.220 there's just no 00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:58.799 closeness, 00:33:58.959 --> 00:34:00.220 no real fellowship 00:34:00.220 --> 00:34:00.779 with him 00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:01.759 for whatever reason. 00:34:03.199 --> 00:34:03.899 Talk to God 00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:04.419 about it. 00:34:05.659 --> 00:34:05.839 I mean, 00:34:05.879 --> 00:34:06.579 if it's just your 00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.879 hard heartedness, 00:34:08.219 --> 00:34:08.920 your sin, 00:34:09.199 --> 00:34:09.779 confess it 00:34:09.779 --> 00:34:10.480 and repent of it. 00:34:11.860 --> 00:34:12.579 It could be 00:34:12.579 --> 00:34:13.079 that your 00:34:13.079 --> 00:34:15.039 life is just 00:34:15.039 --> 00:34:15.699 so busy 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.360 that you've just 00:34:16.360 --> 00:34:16.719 sort of 00:34:16.719 --> 00:34:18.079 drifted away. 00:34:19.299 --> 00:34:19.819 Come back 00:34:19.819 --> 00:34:20.219 to him. 00:34:20.719 --> 00:34:21.739 Confess that. 00:34:21.739 --> 00:34:23.219 If you don't 00:34:23.219 --> 00:34:24.439 know God 00:34:24.439 --> 00:34:25.199 is your father 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:25.959 because you 00:34:25.959 --> 00:34:26.339 don't have a 00:34:26.339 --> 00:34:27.099 relationship with 00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:27.779 Jesus as your 00:34:27.779 --> 00:34:28.419 Lord and Savior, 00:34:29.419 --> 00:34:30.419 admit that. 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:31.899 Call upon Jesus 00:34:31.899 --> 00:34:32.839 to save you 00:34:32.839 --> 00:34:34.079 now this morning. 00:34:35.399 --> 00:34:36.299 Don't wait 00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:38.119 until you're 00:34:38.119 --> 00:34:38.639 in the middle 00:34:38.639 --> 00:34:39.539 of a dark 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:40.500 valley, 00:34:40.859 --> 00:34:41.539 afraid, 00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:42.779 not knowing 00:34:42.779 --> 00:34:43.799 which way to go 00:34:43.799 --> 00:34:45.579 to come to him. 00:34:46.459 --> 00:34:47.479 The best way 00:34:47.479 --> 00:34:48.259 for all of us 00:34:48.259 --> 00:34:48.959 to live in this 00:34:48.959 --> 00:34:49.379 world 00:34:49.379 --> 00:34:51.719 and be prepared 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.379 for the dark 00:34:52.379 --> 00:34:52.819 valleys 00:34:52.819 --> 00:34:54.859 is to stay 00:34:54.859 --> 00:34:55.699 close to him. 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.039 And the best 00:34:57.039 --> 00:34:57.500 way to stay 00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.699 close to God 00:34:58.699 --> 00:35:00.519 is to talk to him 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:00.919 on a regular 00:35:00.919 --> 00:35:01.299 basis. 00:35:01.559 --> 00:35:01.879 Pray. 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.480 Just talk to him. 00:35:05.119 --> 00:35:06.039 Listen to him 00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:06.659 by opening the 00:35:06.659 --> 00:35:07.539 Bible and reading 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:07.759 it. 00:35:07.799 --> 00:35:08.359 That's God's 00:35:08.359 --> 00:35:08.739 word. 00:35:08.939 --> 00:35:09.319 That's God 00:35:09.319 --> 00:35:10.279 speaking through 00:35:10.279 --> 00:35:10.980 the written 00:35:10.980 --> 00:35:11.879 pages and his 00:35:11.879 --> 00:35:12.179 spirit. 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.279 We are 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:17.319 living in a 00:35:17.320 --> 00:35:18.760 tough world. 00:35:20.700 --> 00:35:21.720 A sinfully 00:35:21.720 --> 00:35:22.600 dark world. 00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:24.860 And even in 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.460 the best 00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.620 homes, 00:35:27.200 --> 00:35:27.760 communities, 00:35:28.640 --> 00:35:29.160 even in the 00:35:29.160 --> 00:35:29.940 best personal 00:35:29.940 --> 00:35:30.360 life, 00:35:30.840 --> 00:35:31.580 we all have 00:35:31.580 --> 00:35:32.300 dark valleys. 00:35:33.580 --> 00:35:34.480 But the message 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.480 of this psalm is, 00:35:35.539 --> 00:35:36.000 this particular 00:35:36.000 --> 00:35:36.480 verse is, 00:35:37.480 --> 00:35:38.260 the Lord always 00:35:38.260 --> 00:35:38.900 leads us. 00:35:40.080 --> 00:35:40.760 He'll always 00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:41.360 lead us through 00:35:41.360 --> 00:35:42.039 us one way 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.519 or the other. 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.940 And the way 00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:45.539 to do it 00:35:45.539 --> 00:35:46.440 without fear 00:35:46.440 --> 00:35:49.840 is to be 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.539 close to him. 00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.500 Make sure 00:35:53.500 --> 00:35:55.920 that when you 00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:56.539 walk out that 00:35:56.539 --> 00:35:56.980 door this 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.300 morning, 00:35:57.920 --> 00:35:59.160 you're walking 00:35:59.160 --> 00:35:59.960 close with the 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:00.240 Lord. 00:36:01.660 --> 00:36:02.280 He'll make the 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:03.120 good times even 00:36:03.120 --> 00:36:03.420 better. 00:36:04.740 --> 00:36:05.620 And he'll get 00:36:05.620 --> 00:36:06.099 you through the 00:36:06.099 --> 00:36:06.940 dark times. 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:08.059 Let's pray. 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:08.099 Let's pray.