EveryDay Life
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
daily provision and protective care
My comments today are about,
“Shepherd and Savior.”
1”The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want . .
4Though 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
This beloved Psalm begins with the focus of who the Shepherd is before explaining what He can and will do. Who He is – His power, character, nature, and love – is of first importance as to your being convinced of what He is and can do. And what He can do He will do. 20 ”Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 NIV. Do not limit God!
He is the Lord God Almighty who sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. As Paul described the Good Shepherd, He is, 21 . . far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church.” Ephesians 1:21-22 NKJ.
Paul was describing our Good Shepherd and Glorious Savior. That introduces today’s Psalm 23:4, ”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.” You will walk through valleys, and there and then you will discover His company and comfort as never before.
Shadows are merely a projection of something else and whatever your shadow appears to be, your Shepherd will not leave you in the valley alone. There is a grand promise, “Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill brought low. The crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth.” Luke 3:5 NKJ. Pause and consider: the rough ways will be made smooth.
promises to take you through your valleys, even that final journey. But read that verse again. You will walk in valleys, but you are assured that your Shepherd and Savior will neither leave you alone in the valley nor leave you alone in the valley.
Sheep face many predators and threats. They are small, weak, essentially defenseless, easily frightened, and huddle together for safety when threatened. Life is not about where you walk, nor what your circumstance is. Life is more about who you invite to walk alongside you. At creation, God explained, “It is not good for man to be alone.” Yours and my Shepherd will never leave us alone, even in, “the valley of the shadow of death.”
The presence of the shepherd alongside or nearby is calming to the sheep, and of notice to its enemies. The Shepherd changes every situation into something better. You can rely on His daily provision. “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” Psalm 37:25 NKJ. And you can trust His protective care. “God is our refuge and strength; very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 NLT.
The Shepherd never leaves you where He finds you. He leads you home beside still waters and green pastures, “guarding and guiding all the way.”
Even when walking THROUGH the dark valley of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Vs 4
My prayer for you today is to know that wherever you walk, He will be with you.
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