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Show THE ULTIMATE COMFORT Psalm 23: 4 "Tea, though I walk though 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. " We live in a turmoil and the world that is filled with people right and wrong. the wars and We rumors are are torn between ripped apart by of wars, the corruption, the economic bust, and the spiritual vacuum. We are searching everywhere for some relief and blessing. Well, here it is in this Biblical text penned by the Psalmist David, an offer of what I call the ultimate hope and the comfort of a lifetime. Listen to the tHree verses: "Yea, though I walk through the 1 valley of the shadow of death, I will fear evil: for thou art with me; thy staff they comfort me." no When the prophet Isaiah state of affairs, he and thy rod consider his concluded, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew thei r strength, they shall mount up with wings eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:) He suggested three levels of spiritual awareness. First there is flying, the excitement of rushing, the zeal of getting involved. Then, there is running, the push to get there in a hurry, to rush. Finally there is the walking, the settling like down to and consistent pace, to get there but never an even plodding alon tiring or never giving in, giving out, 2 or • • giving up. There are three wants us or four to catch hold of. things First, David we must knowing that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8: 28) Do not be in a rush. F or the race is not given to the settle down and walk the battle to the strong but to those who hold out and endure until the swift nor (Ecclesiastes 9: 11) Endurance is the key. Faithfulness is the goalpost. One is to walk calmly, steadily advancing, knowing the road, fully aware of the end, resolved to follow the path, convinced of ones safety, and perfectly composed. Every now and then I go to some part of the hospital that is end. 3 restricted. But I never have any problem because I walk in walk without, as if I know exactly where I am going. The walk never wavers valley because it not the of death but the valley of the SHADOW of death. A shadow no harm. The shadow of a can do dog never bites. The shadow of a gun never shots. The shadow of a knife never cuts. The shadow of death never kills. Second, one calmly because it is a walk not IN but THROUGH the valley. I will come out alright on the other side. Third, can walk the Psalmist declares "I will fear Not so much that there is the Psalmist has no overcome no evil." evil, but that the fear of sting of death has been conquered. The victory over the grave evil. The 4 is I tell you there is an ultimate comfort in walking through the has been valley won. fearing no evil. and Second, I am comforted becau know that the Lord is with me His rod and staff comforts me. e I and that I am not somebody that is with me of lords and King of kings. alone and the is the Lord He is my all and my all. He is omniscient, all knowing; omnipotent, all omnipresent, everywhere all the time. He is sovereign and He knows all about me and the valley of the shadow of death. Not only is the Lord powerful; and with me, but He has a rod and a staff in His hands. Anything in the hands of God everything in any other hands. No wonder Goliath fell to David. is more than 5 The stone in David's hand and the Lord's giant sword. No wonder the three Hebrew boys came was more than the of the furnace without so much as out the smell of smoke. The Lord in the furnace was more than the fire. Water can become wine in the hands of the Lord. A few loaves and a few fishes can feed thousands in the hands of the Lord. can to become salve and see can blind in the hands of the Lord. A become Lord. cause a a Waves pulpit can Clay man cross in the hands of the become stepping stones in the hand of the Lord. A grave can become a resurrection birthing station in the hands of the Lord. A wretch undone can become saved in the hands of the Lord. 6 |
