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Jonathan's Bible Study Site
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Meditations:
Psalm 1:1-3, The Blessings of the Law
Psalm 2:1-12, The Whole Package
Psalm 3:1-8, Ten Thousand to One
Psalm 5:1-3, 7-8, 11, God's Goodness and Grace
Psalm 8:1-9, Crowning Us with Glory and Honor
Psalm 11:1-7, To Trust in Our Refuge
Psalm 16:1-7, Are You Blessed?
Psalm 17:1-7, Relying on God's Goodness
Psalm 22:1-8, 14-28, God Always Hears
Psalm 23:1-6, Finding the Still Waters
Psalm 23:4, Comfort in the Valley
Psalm 25:1-9, The Nature of God's Mercy
Psalm 27:1-6, Curing a Low-Grade Fear
Psalm 30:1-5, Joy Comes in the Morning
Psalm 33:1-5, 20-22, With God
Psalm 36:1-9, God's Far-reaching Love
Psalm 37:1-11, Wait, Wait, Wait...
Psalm 40:1-5, Stuck in the Mud
Psalm 42:1-11, Faith Controlling Emotions
Psalm 43:1-5, Why Am I in Despair?
Psalm 46:1-5, The Nature of God's Might
Psalm 62:1-12, A Lifestyle of Faith
Psalm 63:1-8, No Matter What the Circumstances
Psalm 69:1-5, 13-18, God of the Storms
Psalm 71:17-23, Do It Again, God
Psalm 84:1-12, Individual Miracles
Psalm 86:1-17, Just to Know You're There
Psalm 89:1-18, Singing Forever
Psalm 91:1-16, Faith!
Psalm 92:1-8, Patience and Thanksgiving
Psalm 103:8-18, Depths of God's Grace
Psalm 104:10-24, God in the Normal Days
Psalm 107:1-43, Focus on God's Goodness
Psalm 108:1-9, Giving Thanks with Abandon
Psalm 111:1-10, God Gives Wonderful Blessings
Psalm 114:1-8, Sustaining Love
Psalm 116:1-9, Simplicity Is a Virtue
Psalm 118:24, Palm Sunday 2004
Psalm 121:1-8, Help Is Standing By
Psalm 123:1-4, Our First Hope
Psalm 137:1-4, Hanging Up Our Harps
Psalm 138:1-8, Lord, Provider, and Friend
Psalm 142:1-7, Life in a Cave
Psalm 143:7-12, Teach Us to Follow
Psalm 146:1-10, Turning the World Upside Down
Psalm 147:1-11, Living in Debt
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Psalm 23:4
Comfort in the Valley
Even 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.
World English Bible
There is so much our minds know about death, but so little that our hearts know. Our minds know that there is a time and a season for
everything, including birth and death. Our minds know that Jesus' resurrection defeated death, both for Himself and for us, and that Jesus' promise is true that
He went to prepare a place for us in heaven. We know these truths, and we believe these deep in our souls, but the pain we feel in the shadow of death is strong,
and our aching hearts will not be consoled by reason.
Each time we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, our Guide is beside us. We do not know the way through this dreaded and unfamiliar valley, but
He knows. At a time when our pain makes us so vulnerable, He is there to protect us, and more than that, to comfort us. Jesus knows how much it hurts, and He
knows all the unanswerable questions that pour out of us in the valley, and He is there.
Because He is there to protect and comfort us in the valley, we have the promises of the blessings that follow in Psalm 23 and elsewhere in the scriptures, but in
the valley, the blessing that our heart can understand is that He is there. God promised to "wipe away ever tear" from our eyes, and for that reason, Jesus is
there. God's "grace is sufficient" for all the burdens we bear, so Jesus is there. We do not find many answers in the valley, because our hearts do not ache for
explanations and logic. We just need to be held, and Jesus is there.
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Copyright © 2003 - 2008 Jonathan Morris. All Rights Reserved