Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

"Preach The Word"

VERSE 4
"Yea though I walk through the valley
of death, I will fear no ewl:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

In verse 4 we see three things.
1. Place.
2. Peace.
3. Presence.

I. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

A. Death is gain; fellowship in tomb.

B. Four causes of death.

1. Believers work is finished.

2. Divine discipline.

3. Glorify God. (Philippians 1:20)

4. Divine imposition.

C. We are not to fear shadows.

1. Dying is a shadow.

2. Shadow of a dog cannot bite you.

3. Shadow of a sword cannot kill you.

4. Shadow of a serpent cannot sting you.

5. Shadow of death cannot separate the believer from life.

D. The reason some people fear death is because they aren't dying yet. God will give you dying grace.

E. The word valley is rendered "gloomy ravine".

1. Valley of sickness.

2. Financial loss and ruin.

3. Disgrace and dishonor.

4. Valley of bereavement.

5. Valley of age.

6. Valley of death.

F. After the valley of shadow comes "the prepared table",
''anointed head'', ''cup'', ''goodness and mercy''.

1. Death is dark, gloomy, cold, but only a shadow.

2. Death is not the house, only the porch to the house.

3. There must be a light up above in order to have a shadow.

G. When you walk you are not in a state of fear. You increase
your pace when you are afraid.
David said:

1. I am not afraid.

2. There is no condemnation.

3. I am not ashamed.

4. I shall walk on through.

A Christian may feel the stroke of death, but never know the sting of death.

H. Walk. (Hebrew "firm step")

1. Walk of assurance.

2. Walk means progress.

a. Walk of safety.

b. Walk of serenity.

c. Walk of satisfaction.

d. Walk of security.

I.Through; not in, not stay in, not abide in, not remain in, not live in, not camp in, not wander in, not lost in; But "through"...

1. Through the shadow into the sunshine.

2. Through the blackness into the brightness.

3. Through the darkness into the daylight.

4. Through the gloom into the glory.

5. Through the twilight into God's tomorrow.

6. Through the midnight into an eternal midday.

7. Through the valley into vision.

8. Through the ravine into the rapture.

II. For thou art with me.
A. The great shepherd will never forsake us.

1. When you are weak. (II Corinthians 13:4)

2. When you are weeping. (II Corinthians 12)

3. When you are weary. (Job 7:13)

4. When you are forsaken by world. (Hebrews 11:37-38)

B. One thing that settles the sheep is the presence of the shepherd; not out yonder, but now. (Hebrews 11:6)

III. Thy rod and thy staff will comfort me.

A. Rod and staff.

1. Rod speaks of authority; staff of aid.

2. Rod for defense; staff for direction.

3. Rod used to rule; staff for restoration.

4. Rod used for enemies; staff for sheep.

5. Rod used to govern; staff for guidance.

B. Four things seen in rod and staff.

1. Death. No one likes to think of death.

2. Discipline. Rod dipped in red dye. (I Corinthians 10:13

3. Duty. Help then to walk.

4. Deliverance. From edges; dangerous places.

C. Rod is word of God.

1. Rod fits the hand right; was 2-1/2 feet long;

(Staff was 6-1/2 feet long)

2. Uses.

a. Punitive (Ezekiel 20:37)

b. Investigative; find scab, separate wool. (Psalm 139:23,24)

c. Corrective; break leg, carry on shoulders. Never went astray again. (Psalm 89:23; Proverbs 10:13; Proverbs 23:14)

d. Protective; lions. (Satanic forces)

1) Protects us.

a) From fatigue. He restoreth my soul.

b) From fear. Thou art with me.

c) From foes. Enemies round about.

d) From friends. Daggers of saints.

e) From fever. At door of fold to see if any wound under wool. His staff keeps me

straight; his rod keeps me safe.

2) Protects us from.

a) Fear by his presence.

b) Foes by his power.

c) Future by his promises.

3) Devil is not afraid of sheep. Devil is afraid of Shepherd.

D. Staff. Type of Holy Spirit 1 . Staff means "stay", "support'.

a. Rest under his chin.

b. Identifies the shepherd.

c. Lifts the sheep. Drawing power of Holy Spirit.

1) Puts it under legs of lambs.

2) Puts it on neck of ewes.

d. Staff used to push little lambs to their mother. Cry "abba father".

E. Rod used for discipline.

1. Three things you can do when God applies the rod.

a. Falsely accuse God.
b. Refuse to be child trained.

c. Murmur about the scourging.

2. Hebrews 12 tells us how to act.

a. Not just make a statement, but a confession of sin.
b. I take it like a Christian ought. (Hebrews 12:5)
c. Remember why God sends it. (Hebrews 12:10)
d. It will produce fruit. (Hebrews 12:11)

3. Sins unto death. (I John 5:16)
a. Lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:4)
b. Living after the flesh. (Romans 8:13)
c. Defiling the temple of Holy Ghost (I Corinthians
3:1 7)
d. Fornication. (I Corinthians 5)
e. Murmuring. (I Corinthians 10:10)
f. Misbehaving at Lord's table. (I Corinthians 11:27)
g. Rebelling against chastisement. (Hebrews 12:9)

F. Shepherd's crook. Thy staff

Shepherd's club. Thy rod.

Shepherd's company. Thou art with me.

IV. Other equipment of the Shepherd.

A. Lamp. Bottom a fleece wick. ("Thy word is a lamp unto my feet.")

1. Between feet to warm. Find sheep in pathway. Fleece
coat. Dried him out.
2. Word is comforting.
3. Oil makes light effective.

B. Script. Bag out of goat's skin. (I Samuel 1 7:40-44)
1. Supplies.
2. Sling. (I Samuel 1 7:49-50)

a. Holy Spirit power beyond the natural; beyond self.

b. Against giant's armor.

c. Killed animals before they got the sheep.

3. Flute.

a. Wind instrument. (Matthew 12:20)

b. Controlling power over sheep. Chew cud.

C. Garment. (Genesis 3:2 1; Genesis 37:3)

1. Dress proper for climate. Fleece; sheep lined.

2. Looked like a sheep. Identification.

3. Wore it for protection. White throws off heat. Fleece kept him warm.

4. Wore it for propitiation. Something had to die.

(I John 2:2); I John 4:9-10)

a. Nakedness.

b. Tattered garments.

c. Defects of the body.

d. Cover sick and cold sheep.

Dr. Billy Kanoy

 

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