We have been studying for several weeks Psalm 23.  We have entitled the study, ‘David’s Journal’.  He is recording the high points of God’s dealings in his life.  We looked at verse 1 as “THE REVEALING DAYS”, verse 2 as “THE RESTING DAYS”, and verse 3 as “THE RESTORING DAYS”.

This week we turn to “THE RENEWING DAYS” in verse 4 which says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  This verse has been a great source of renewing strength at many a death bed and through valleys of dark trouble.

David makes a bold statement in the middle of this verse, “…I will fear no evil:” Notice David did not say, ‘there is no evil’ but that he would not ‘fear it’.  “The worst evils of life are those which do not exist except in our imagination.  If we had no troubles but real troubles we should not have a tenth part of our present sorrows.” (Spurgeon)  Let us see from this verse the things that cured David from the disease of fearing.

In this verse we find in order to cure the disease of fear there must be “A PROPER ATTITUDE”.  David says yes to all his valleys in the statement, “Yea, though I walk through…”  A resistance to the valley that God ordains for our life will only bring you down.  The same water that destroyed the world in Noah’s day saved Noah. It was all in his relationship to the water.  The proper attitude lifts us up and above our valleys.

We also find in this verse “A PERSISTENT AVENUE” in the phrase, “…though I walk through…”  It gives great renewal of strength to realize there is a progression.  We must walk on with the assurance we are going ‘through’ this dark valley.  It too shall come to pass.  It will not always be.

This verse also gives renewed strength through “A PERCEPTIVE ALIGNMENT”.  This is seen in the phrase, “…the valley of the shadow of death,”   In order to have a shadow there must be light.  Death stands by the road of each of our lives but there is light that shines from heaven.  This light causes death to cast but a shadow over our lives.  Remember, no shadow can harm us.  The shadow of a gun can not shoot us.  The shadow of a knife can not cut us.  The shadow of a car can not run over you.  The shadow of death has no power over us.  The proper alignment to light brings no fear.

This text also gives us renewed strength through “A PRESENT ABIDING”.  We are told by David “…for thou art with me;”   What joy there is to know He is there.  I am told that once a bee has stung someone it can not sting another.  Death left its stinger in Christ and can not sting us.  The one who took away the sting of death is ever with me.

There is also “A PERSONAL AFFIRMATION” in the phrase, “…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”  The rod of the shepherd is used to count the sheep as individuals.  He knows His sheep.  It is used in a time of correction when the sheep go astray.  The staff of the shepherd is used to get the sheep out of moving water and thorny briar patches.  The staff is laid on the back of restless sheep to bring a sense of calm to them.

Let us remember the words of Isaiah when he said, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.”  Let us not walk ahead of Him or behind but let us ever walk with the Shepherd.