Sunday, August 25, 2013

For Thou Art With Me-Understanding Psalm 23


In The Valley


In order to have a shadow, you must have light. And the light can be either before you, to show the shadow behind you; or the light may be behind you, revealing the shadow ahead of you.

     A valley has three parts: a beginning, a middle and an end. It's length is determined by distance from one hill, mountain, clifftop, precipice or high place to another. Valleys are seldom flat or easy to walk on. Meadows, forests and waters can separate valleys causing them to appear as if they were not really valleys at all.
     Valleys encompass only a fraction of land: water covers 90% of the earth; and most of that is undrinkable. Land covers the other 10%, but a portion of that is uninhabitable, due either to wastelands or extreme heat, which leaves us with about 8% of this earth is land, which is covered in valleys, mountains, hills, plains, deserts, forests.
     The majority of this 8% is habitable. Unfortunately, many people fight over the land instead of learning how to live with the land and with each other. From a small village to a hidden getaway; from a metropolis to a country villa; from a castle to a hut; from kings to thugs; land is sold, taken away, blood-soaked, ruined to wastes, and burned. The dead are buried beneath the land, burned and scattered across the land by winds, and hidden in tall stone pyramids above the land or laid to rest in mausoleums above ground; while some sink to the bottom of the ocean.
     The lands we live on are decimated by hate, a symptom of darkness. Darkness which covered the earth at one time, but was sent fleeing when God created light: Genesis 1:2-4 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.”
     Light reveals darkness and sends it fleeing away. The more light there is, the less dark there is. The more Light (1 John 1:5 “This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God Is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all.”) there is, the less darkness (Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”) there is.
     God Is Light. What a beautiful Name this is! James 1:17 “Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from The Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” No shadow of turning, no separation from God. No variableness, no never contrary, not fickle in nature; always true and truthful, faithful, sure.
     God Is Near. No separation from God. Isaiah 41:10, 13 “Fear thou not, for I am with you: be not dismayed; for I am your God: I will strengthen you; yes, I will help you with the right hand of My Righteousness. --- For I The Lord thy God will hold your right hand, saying unto you, 'Fear not; I will help you.” Hebrews 13:5, 6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord Is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.'” Psalm 27:1 “The Lord Is my Light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord Is the Strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
     God Is my Helper. Psalm 27:2-3, 5 “When the wicked, even my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident....For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle shall He hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock.”
God Is Provision. Psalm 23:4 “Yes, 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 comfort me.”
Psalm 25:2 “O my God, I trust in You: let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me.” 
Psalm 27:11 “Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of my enemies.”
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord Is my Strength and my Shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song I will praise Him.”
Psalm 31:3 “For You are my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for Your Name's sake lead me, and guide me.”
Psalm 32:7 “You are my Hiding Place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall compass me about with songs of Deliverance. Selah.”
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Psalm 37:5, 6 “Commit your way unto The Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday.”
Psalm 38:39, 40 “But the salvation of the righteous is of The Lord: He Is their Strength in the time of trouble. And The Lord shall help them, and deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him.”
Psalm 40:1-4 “I waited patiently for The Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in The Lord. Blessed is that man that makes The Lord his trust, and respects not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.”
Psalm 43:3 “O send out Your light and Your truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Your holy hills, and to Your tabernacles.”
Psalm 46:1 “God Is our Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 56:3,-4, 9 -13“What time I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do to me. … .When I cry unto You, then shall my enemies turn back: this I know; for God is with me. In God will I praise His Word: in The Lord will I praise His Word. In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. You r vows are upon me, O God: I will render praise unto You. For You have delivered my soul from death: will You not also deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?”
For Thou Art With Me


“O my Lord, 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. Such a restful verse this is. I am contented in The Lord. I trust Him in all things, all ways, always. The Lord is my friend, my constant companion and I am His. He neither turns to the left, nor to the right: God is very near to me at all times. We walk the strait and narrow road together, for The Lord God is my Righteousness. It is He that covers me with His covenant of Grace and Lovingkindness.

We walk together in His light and His love. For when He redeemed my soul from death, He filled me with His light and His love. His Name is upon me. His glory shines upon me and through me. Your rod and Your staff guide me and lead me to safer places, higher places, where no evil can go. You hold my right hand and guide my fingers and my heart when I write, when I embrace Your Word. You are the Strength of my life; in You I am found: Lord, be found in me. Be the center of my life, the joy of my praise, my songs are of You. You are my Salvation: with Your blood You have redeemed my soul. Not enough words can be found to praise Your Name for ever. Yet, I will try and I will endure till the end, when You finally bring me home with You. Amen."




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